As Quebec’s public service prepares to return to the office three days a week starting Monday, there is significant opposition from the members of the Syndicat des professionnels du gouvernement du Québec union. The union conducted a survey from Jan. 14 to 21, with 82% participation, revealing that 93% of members are against the proposed return schedule.
Guillaume Bouvrette, president of the SPGQ, expressed little surprise at the survey results, highlighting that state employees currently work two days a week in the office. The push for increased in-office presence comes following the implementation of the first teleworking policy in April 2022.
President of the Treasury Board, France-Élaine Duranceau, announced in December that employees should return to the office for a minimum of three days a week by the end of January. She emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration, cohesion, and creativity among teams.
However, SPGQ members are advocating for more flexibility in the return-to-office plan, citing the need for individualized approaches rather than a blanket policy. Bouvrette suggested that managers could request employees to come into the office temporarily for tasks like training or supervision.
The union leader criticized the Treasury Board’s decision, stating a lack of evidence in weighing the pros and cons of the return-to-office policy. Despite this, the Treasury Board has allowed a 30-day transition period until Feb. 27 to ease the adjustment for affected workers.
SPGQ had previously arranged for consultations with the Treasury Board before any changes, and in response to feeling sidelined, filed a union grievance in December. Bouvrette emphasized the need for meaningful dialogue and consideration of employee input in such decisions.
