The Canada Revenue Agency is requiring employees to work in the office four days per week starting by the end of July 2026 [1].
The mandate signals a significant shift in federal workplace policy as the agency moves away from flexible remote arrangements. This transition creates immediate friction between agency leadership and labor representatives over the physical capacity of government buildings to hold the workforce.
Union representatives said the timeline for the transition is based on a 60-day notice period provided to staff [2]. Claude Brière, a union representative, said the return to the office is likely to happen toward the end of July [3].
However, labor leaders are raising alarms regarding the feasibility of the plan. Brière said more than a third of the buildings currently occupied by the CRA do not have the space needed for a four-day-in-office schedule [4]. This lack of infrastructure suggests that over 33% of the agency's real estate cannot accommodate the new requirement [4].
The mandate affects CRA office locations across Canada, including those in Ottawa [5]. While the agency has set the deadline, the union's concerns highlight a gap between administrative policy and the reality of available desk space.
Staff members are now navigating the 60-day window before the requirement becomes mandatory [2]. The dispute centers on whether the agency can realistically house its employees without compromising working conditions, or safety standards.
“More than a third of the buildings “currently occupied by the CRA” do not have the space needed”
This move reflects a broader trend of government agencies attempting to reclaim physical office footprints after years of remote work. The contradiction between the mandate and the available square footage suggests a potential logistical crisis for the CRA, which may lead to further labor disputes or a forced staggered-entry system if the building capacity cannot meet the four-day requirement.
