The Decline of Telework: Trends and Employment Perspectives

The practice of telework, which significantly gained prominence during the pandemic starting on March 13, 2020, is witnessing a decline, particularly in regions like Montreal, Outaouais, and the Capitale-Nationale. Recent statistics reveal that employees are spending fewer hours working from home, dropping from 21.5% in June 2022 to 15.1% in June 2024, as reported by Statistique Canada.

Despite this overall reduction, many employees still prefer to maintain the telecommuting habits that they developed over the past four years. It is important to note that the decrease in telework is not consistent across all demographics. Employees residing further away from their workplaces tend to favor remote work for practicality, while those living closer tend to return to the office more frequently.

Employers generally express a desire for their staff to return to the workplace. They believe that in-person attendance is essential for attending meetings and nurturing informal discussions, such as those around the coffee machine. This intent aims to foster cohesion among employees and management and revive office spaces in urban centers and their outskirts. This initiative also responds to the needs of local businesses that have suffered due to the absence of office workers.

However, this shift back to office work brings its challenges. An increase in daily commutes is contributing to heightened congestion on the roads and increased pollution levels. Traffic in the greater Montreal area has deteriorated significantly, reminiscent of pre-pandemic conditions, resulting in crowded public transportation systems.

Despite the diminishing trend of teleworking, there is still room for what is termed hybrid work modes—involving a mixture of time spent in the office and at home. Arrangements may typically include three days in the office and two at home, or vice versa, depending on negotiations between employees and employers.

Discontent has surfaced over recent calls for a mandated return to the office, evidenced by the strong reaction from federal employees upon being informed they would need to report to the workplace three days a week starting September 9. The public outcry led to the Federal Court accepting a request from the Alliance of Canadian Public Service (AFPC) to reevaluate this decision.

In Quebec, the situation differs; it has recently been determined that the provincial government lacks the authority to compel telework among its employees. The reason for this is a negotiated engagement letter from the Syndicat de la fonction publique et parapublique du Québec (SFPQ), representing 27,000 members, asserting that telework must remain a personal choice.