The Government of the Canadian Province of British Columbia has announced plans to phase out work-from-home options for the Public Service.
Members of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) have been told to prepare for a return to the office, in some cases on a part-time basis.
In a statement, the Public Service Agency said Ministries had now developed workplace adaptations and safe workplace procedures “to allow us to continue operating safely while also allowing more employees to return to their regular places of work”.
“To accommodate physical distancing requirements, workplaces will likely operate with reduced capacity and modified field duties for a minimum of six-to-18 months,” the Agency said.
President of the BCGEU, Stephanie Smith (pictured) said she had asked each Ministry’s Joint Union-Management Committee to monitor implementation of the back-to-work plan, address safety issues and report any concerns to the union.
The Downtown Victoria Business Association has been calling on the Province to encourage public sector workers to return to offices to reinvigorate the economy.
Chief Executive of the Association, Jeff Bray said the move, combined with an extension of the Federal wage subsidy and the revamped commercial rent assistance program, could be the “trifecta to keep the majority of businesses downtown going until we get to Phase Four of a full reopening”.
Mr Bray said restaurants and coffee shops were struggling with a drastically reduced lunch crowd and stores were no longer getting the customers who shopped during their lunch break or after work.
Victoria, 13 October 2020
