Following the growing return-to-office (RTO) trend Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is the latest to announce that provincial employees will be back at their desks full-time by next year, but the decision is causing a mix of emotions.
At a Thursday press conference focused on the province’s response to new U.S. tariffs, Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney revealed the updated mandate: four days a week in the office starting Oct. 20, and a full five days a week by January.
Until now, employees were only required to be in-office three days a week, a rule that’s been in place since April 2022.
Ford defended the shift, saying it’s about more than just showing up; it’s about productivity, training, and even supporting the local economy.
“I believe everyone’s more productive when they are at work. And how do you mentor someone over a phone? You can’t. You’ve gotta look at them eye to eye, train them, comradery,” Ford told reporters.
“Plus, the economy too. I’ll just use downtown Toronto for example, the PATH. You know, there’re hardworking entrepreneurs whose businesses basically just died when there wasn’t floor traffic.”
The Premier also noted that other big names RBC, Scotiabank, and TD are making similar moves, mandating at least four in-office days a week this fall.
“All the companies I’ve talked to, from the banks to the insurance companies to everyone else, everyone needs to go back to work,” Ford said.
Despite Ford’s passionate opinions not everyone is convinced and we here at the BG show hit the streets to really ask how people were feeling.
One Torontonian said “I think everyone should be able to work from home. Especially women, because we have our time of the month and we usually take care of the kids.”
While another offered a different opinion saying “ I think its good to return back to the office, I think building community is one of the most important things you could do as a person working from home kinda strips you of that”
