Ottawa, February 5, 2026 - Earlier today the federal government announced its intention to increase in office presence to four days a week as of July 6, 2026, with a promise to engage unions for input on implementation of the plan.  

“Remote work simply works – AJC members have been upholding the rule of law while working remotely for years now,” says AJC president Gregory Harlow. “But more than that, federal public servants deserve healthy, safe workplaces, and lawyers require office spaces that are appropriate to their professional and ethical obligations. The employer has not made office space readily available through several rounds of increased office presence, and they have failed to address health and safety issues in government buildings – increasing office presence is bad policy and a risk to our members.”  

As lawyers, AJC members have clear professional and ethical obligations when it comes to confidentiality and privacy. Shared workspaces and limited access to private office spaces place an unfair burden on members to uphold those obligations. In addition, the union has been deeply concerned about health and safety issues in federal workplaces, including air quality, exposures to preventable illnesses, mould, and other materials, and rodent and insect infestations.  

Throughout return to office mandates and changes to office presence requirements, the AJC has been clear: these changes were unreasonable and a breach of management rights, and the government failed to meaningfully consult unions and their members.  

Increasing presence in federal government offices must be based in evidence, professionally sound, and in meaningful consultation with federal employees and unions –  the AJC will use every tool available to the union to challenge this move and defend the rights of our members.