The government push to get people working back in an office full time is so idiotic. Not only is it ableist, but it’s sexist (moms who are working hybrid because it allows them to get their kids to and from school will no longer be able to do that so I think we’re going to see more moms pull out of the workforce). And, it’s more expensive for taxpayers and the employees (who are already struggling to make ends meet). Now they will have to pay more for gas and pay for downtown parking, they’ll be exposed to more illness, and lose hours of free time daily just commuting. And for what? Taxpayer money to be spent on office leases or purchases,
utilities and property taxes, office equipment and computers. When employees work from home they’re using their own computers, they’re using their own utilities, they aren’t driving as much or paying for parking.
The whole thing is an attempt to pacify the corporations who own real estate that they can’t lease out. There are office vacancies all over downtown Edmonton. This push will not improve worker happiness, it will not improve quality of work or productivity, and it will not improve the employees’ daily lives. It will make them worse and harder and more expensive.
If governments are concerned about revitalizing downtown, then they should make downtown more affordable for small businesses, stop filling downtown with huge franchise businesses, stop lining the pockets of Daryl Katz, and start investing in community, culture, and independent businesses—you know, places that make being out in the city colourful and fun.
If people want to work hybrid or they want to be able to work from home, they should be allowed to do that. Full stop. Unless their jobs are customer facing, it’s unnecessary to force people back into office. Not only is it more cost-effective as a government to have employees that are working from home, it is also better for productivity. When you have a bunch of people in an office together, there is so much time spent slacking and socializing. When people work from home they’re more conscientious about their time. And having more free time to themselves and less time spent stuck in rush-hour traffic, means people are happier (and they’re happier to work overtime when it’s not going to lengthen their commute).
I've been retired for many years, and appreciate your explaining this perspective. It makes a lot of sense for a society that needs to adjust, be more inclusive and help families afford to live.
Athena, you are making an excellent point. So much about 'work' has changed in the past decades. Technology and the pandemic proved that work can happen from anywhere and productivity is not measured by the amount of time in the government 'office.' Not all work is the same - one size doesn't fit all. The amount of commute time is also ignored - which is unproductive time - especially if your actual 'work' as a project manger for example actually is a construction site not the office. So using this example, your commute time just doubled because you're obligated to drive to the office, pick-up the government vehicle, camera gear, construction drawings - drive to the con structure site - then back to the office at the end of the work day.
If office space was analyzed, it would be clear that a lot of space is used for storage of 'stuff' - not at all efficient.
I see your point. I would suggest though that with those workers working from home is not actually saving the "taxpayers" money. The offices to which they will return are likely leased space, for which the rent is already paid. The office equipment is already there. A relative works for the AB public service, and has been back into the office for sometime. I understand the reasoning about working mothers but not all those public servants are mothers. If the government(s) involved provided the equipment to work from home and did not rent space perhaps it would save money, but there would likely be issues unforetold with that scenario as well.
They definitely still lease or own some space, but I know AHS workers and they said AHS downsized office space because so many were effectively working from home. They now have to find spaces for some departments so they can return to an office.
It’s been nearly six years since Covid created lockdowns, which is why they leased out or sold office space.
Also, of course not everyone is a mom or even a woman, but government office employees are largely women (clerks, project managers, dieticians, managers, admin assistants, communications officers, social workers, etc). I worked for AHS for years, a huge volume of their employees are women.
Furthermore, the pandemic opened up so many opportunities for disabled Albertans to work because of the flexibility for hybrid and work from home jobs (and many didn’t even have to disclose their disabilities as a result- disclosing is supposed to help but it often harms). I hope those employees will be accommodated, but with the government’s track record with disabled folks, I doubt it.
Thank you so much for highlighting the CCPA report. I had heard more about CEO pay in the USA from Robert Reich but didn't have the facts for Canada. Staggers the mind.
Welcome to 2026, Cole. We hope it is an important year full of change for the better in Canada, in Ukraine, Gaza and the world at large.
The government push to get people working back in an office full time is so idiotic. Not only is it ableist, but it’s sexist (moms who are working hybrid because it allows them to get their kids to and from school will no longer be able to do that so I think we’re going to see more moms pull out of the workforce). And, it’s more expensive for taxpayers and the employees (who are already struggling to make ends meet). Now they will have to pay more for gas and pay for downtown parking, they’ll be exposed to more illness, and lose hours of free time daily just commuting. And for what? Taxpayer money to be spent on office leases or purchases,
utilities and property taxes, office equipment and computers. When employees work from home they’re using their own computers, they’re using their own utilities, they aren’t driving as much or paying for parking.
The whole thing is an attempt to pacify the corporations who own real estate that they can’t lease out. There are office vacancies all over downtown Edmonton. This push will not improve worker happiness, it will not improve quality of work or productivity, and it will not improve the employees’ daily lives. It will make them worse and harder and more expensive.
If governments are concerned about revitalizing downtown, then they should make downtown more affordable for small businesses, stop filling downtown with huge franchise businesses, stop lining the pockets of Daryl Katz, and start investing in community, culture, and independent businesses—you know, places that make being out in the city colourful and fun.
If people want to work hybrid or they want to be able to work from home, they should be allowed to do that. Full stop. Unless their jobs are customer facing, it’s unnecessary to force people back into office. Not only is it more cost-effective as a government to have employees that are working from home, it is also better for productivity. When you have a bunch of people in an office together, there is so much time spent slacking and socializing. When people work from home they’re more conscientious about their time. And having more free time to themselves and less time spent stuck in rush-hour traffic, means people are happier (and they’re happier to work overtime when it’s not going to lengthen their commute).
I've been retired for many years, and appreciate your explaining this perspective. It makes a lot of sense for a society that needs to adjust, be more inclusive and help families afford to live.
Thanks
Athena, you are making an excellent point. So much about 'work' has changed in the past decades. Technology and the pandemic proved that work can happen from anywhere and productivity is not measured by the amount of time in the government 'office.' Not all work is the same - one size doesn't fit all. The amount of commute time is also ignored - which is unproductive time - especially if your actual 'work' as a project manger for example actually is a construction site not the office. So using this example, your commute time just doubled because you're obligated to drive to the office, pick-up the government vehicle, camera gear, construction drawings - drive to the con structure site - then back to the office at the end of the work day.
If office space was analyzed, it would be clear that a lot of space is used for storage of 'stuff' - not at all efficient.
I see your point. I would suggest though that with those workers working from home is not actually saving the "taxpayers" money. The offices to which they will return are likely leased space, for which the rent is already paid. The office equipment is already there. A relative works for the AB public service, and has been back into the office for sometime. I understand the reasoning about working mothers but not all those public servants are mothers. If the government(s) involved provided the equipment to work from home and did not rent space perhaps it would save money, but there would likely be issues unforetold with that scenario as well.
They definitely still lease or own some space, but I know AHS workers and they said AHS downsized office space because so many were effectively working from home. They now have to find spaces for some departments so they can return to an office.
It’s been nearly six years since Covid created lockdowns, which is why they leased out or sold office space.
Also, of course not everyone is a mom or even a woman, but government office employees are largely women (clerks, project managers, dieticians, managers, admin assistants, communications officers, social workers, etc). I worked for AHS for years, a huge volume of their employees are women.
Furthermore, the pandemic opened up so many opportunities for disabled Albertans to work because of the flexibility for hybrid and work from home jobs (and many didn’t even have to disclose their disabilities as a result- disclosing is supposed to help but it often harms). I hope those employees will be accommodated, but with the government’s track record with disabled folks, I doubt it.
Thank you for doing all this. I appreciate how you present the information. I wish all the best of 2026 for you.
Thank you so much for highlighting the CCPA report. I had heard more about CEO pay in the USA from Robert Reich but didn't have the facts for Canada. Staggers the mind.