Quebec public servants push back against return to office mandate

As of Jan. 26, Quebec government employees will be required to work in office three days a week instead of two.

Beginning Jan. 26, Quebec government employees will be required to work three days a week in the office instead of two, a move that is drawing pushback from one of the province’s largest independent unions.

Christian Daigle, president of the Quebec public servants union (SFPQ), says the change does not offer real benefits.

“There’s no plus value. There’s no gain for the employer,” said Daigle.

The union surveyed around 7,000 of its members and found 87 per cent expect higher stress and fatigue, 82 per cent say their work-life balance will worsen, and 63 per cent predict lower individual productivity.

The SPFQ represents 27,000 civil servants.

Quebec’s Minister of Government Efficiency, France-Elaine Duranceau, announced the policy shift on Dec. 3, saying it is necessary to improve productivity.

The SFPQ, however, disagrees. While Daigle acknowledges that in-office work can benefit new employees, he notes workers are spread throughout the province, meaning many will still rely on online meetings.

“Even though they’re at the workplace at the same time, they will have to [use] Teams to communicate,” he said, referring to the Microsoft Office program.

Quebec is not the only province calling their employees back. Ontario enforced a full return to the office on Monday and Alberta plans to follow suit next month.

A Montreal-based recruitment agency says workers are likely to accept lower salaries in exchange for full-time remote work.

Michaela Landers, a recruiting director at Proforce Personnel, says since the pandemic candidates are willing to take a pay cut of up to $10,000 just to be able to work from home.

“So, take a $80,000 salary, they are willing to take $70,000 to $75,000 if it means they get to work from home,” she said.

According to the SFPQ survey, seven in 10 workers say they are less likely to stay in their current job if they have to go back to the office.

The union believes this may be part of the province’s strategy to meet its target of cutting 5,000 public sector jobs by March 2027.

CTV News reached out to Minister Duranceau’s office for comment, but the request was declined.

The SFPQ has since filed a grievance against Premier Francois Legault’s government, citing a lack of consultations.