Ontario government just ordered public service workers back to office full time

The Government of Ontario has just announced that it's officially mandating a full return to the office for its public servants, ending a hybrid work policy that has been in place since 2022. 

Starting Jan. 5, 2026, more than 60,000 Ontario Public Service employees will be required to work in-person five days a week.

The move, revealed in a news release from Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney on Thursday, marks a significant turning point from the current rules, which require a minimum of three days per week in the office. 

A transitional phase will begin on Oct. 20, 2025, when employees will be asked to increase their in-office attendance to four days a week. 

In a statement, Mulroney said the updated policy "represents the current workforce landscape in the province," adding that more than half of Ontario's public service employees are already working full-time in person due to the nature of their roles. 

"This transition is an important step that supports the government's ongoing efforts to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant Ontario," Mulroney said. 

Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Pickering that afternoon, Premier Doug Ford emphasized the value of in-person work, saying that he believes employees are more productive in the office. 

"How do you mentor someone over a phone? You can't. You've got to look at them eye to eye," Ford said. 

"I'll just use downtown Toronto, for example, the PATH. You know there are hardworking entrepreneurs who basically [watched] their businesses just die when they weren't seeing the flow of traffic," he continued. 

"I understand all the companies I've talked to, from the banks to the insurance companies to everyone else — everyone needs to go back to work. I think it is just time. Everyone is kind of saying, 'It's time to get back to work.'"

The government's decision comes amid a broader trend of more Toronto-based employers scaling back on remote work. In recent months, many of Canada's largest banks, including RBC, Scotiabank, BMO and TD, have all introduced policies requiring employees to work in the office at least four days a week starting this fall. 

Still, Ford maintained that the provincial government's mandate and timing were not influenced by the big banks and their decision to scale back on remote work. 

"I'm very grateful for the work they do. We have the best public service in Canada and I appreciate the work they do everyday," the premier said.