Some employees working for the federal government are wondering when they will return to their offices, and how much longer they may be expected to work from home.
The Treasury Board has confirmed that working from home will continue for most for the “foreseeable future.” Like for many industries and businesses, future operations are unclear.
Colleen Coffey is the regional executive vice-president, Atlantic, for the Public Service Alliance of Canada. She says there are challenges with opening big buildings in the age of COVID-19.
She highlights the trouble experienced with securing personal protective equipment (PPE) for basic items like hand sanitizer. Coffey states that she can’t imagine how the government is going to manage office spaces. In many, she says, you can’t reach out without touching someone else’s space.
The big challenge moving forward, according to Coffey, is whether people will continue to work from home if childcare spaces continue to be scarce, or if schools remain closed in September.