The article discusses the recent agreement between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the federal government on remote work, which labour experts say is a significant step towards making hybrid work a normalized part of the work environment. The agreement, which includes a letter of understanding, commits both sides to discussing and negotiating return-to-work arrangements.
Experts interviewed for the article emphasize that this is an important development in the post-pandemic workplace, where employers are grappling with how to balance employee needs and productivity with the need for workers to be present in the office. They note that remote work has become more popular since the pandemic, but it’s not available to many workers.
The agreement’s focus on discussing return-to-work arrangements rather than making them mandatory is seen as a positive step towards flexibility and accommodation of different work styles. Labour experts predict that this will set a pattern for other unionized workplaces and even non-unionized ones, where employers may feel pressure to offer similar arrangements to attract and retain talent in a tight labour market.
Some key points from the article include:
- The agreement between PSAC and the federal government commits both sides to discussing and negotiating return-to-work arrangements.
- Remote work has become more popular since the pandemic, with almost one in 10 workers reporting they work both at home and outside of their home in October 2022.
- Employers will use remote or hybrid work to attract and retain people in a tight labour market where the workforce is shrinking as Canadians retire.
- The agreement is seen as a foundation for pattern bargaining, influencing other unionized workplaces and potentially non-unionized ones.
The article highlights that this development marks a significant shift towards flexibility and accommodation of different work styles in the post-pandemic workplace.