Ontario public servants will be required to return to the office full-time, attending in-person five days a week by January 2026. The provincial government made this announcement on Thursday. Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney stated that the decision reflects the current workforce landscape, as the province has been monitoring workplace standards in both public and private sectors.

Starting October 20, employees who have been working in the office at least three days a week will need to increase their attendance to four days a week. This is part of a gradual transition to full-time office work, which will be fully implemented by January 5, 2026. Mulroney noted that more than half of Ontario's public servants are already required to work in the office full-time.

Premier Doug Ford expressed his belief that in-person work enhances productivity. "How do you mentor someone over a phone? You can’t. You’ve got to look at them eye to eye," he said during an unrelated press conference. Ford also mentioned that many businesses in downtown Toronto have suffered due to reduced foot traffic from remote work policies.

The announcement aligns with recent trends in the private sector, where several companies, including Canadian banks, have also mandated increased in-office attendance. The province's top bureaucrat, Michelle DiEmanuele, communicated the new mandate in a letter to public service employees, assuring them that their leaders would support them during this transition.

This shift back to full-time office work marks a significant change in the work culture for Ontario's public servants, as the government aims to adapt to evolving workplace dynamics.