The Treasury Board (TB) has confirmed that it is unaware of the number of federal employees who work from home. . Home Office .In a submission to the Senate National Finance committee, the TB stated that it is currently “not possible” to determine this information..“With regard to the government’s remote work policy, the information is not systematically tracked in a centralized database,” wrote the TB. .“As such, it is not possible to determine the number of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members working from home versus those working in the office.”.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the TB in a May 3 tentative settlement with striking PSAC members agreed “employee rights around virtual work will be protected through a grievance process” under a letter of agreement. .The union in a summary of the pact said the agreement confirmed “virtual work is voluntary, can be initiated by the employee and that arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”.Cabinet from the outbreak of the pandemic on March 11, 2020, directed some 287,978 federal employees to work from home as a health precaution. .TB President Mona Fortier in a directive last Dec. 15 said employees could continue to work from home “40% to 60% of their regular schedule” up to three days per week..“We were in a situation where public servants had to work by necessity from home and thereafter started to be able to work up to three days from home because we’re developing that hybrid model,” Fortier testified on May 3 at the Senate National Finance committee. .“We are trying to get the best of both worlds.”.“Do you have any numbers you could provide us with?” asked Sen. Larry Smith (QC). .“It’s a very good question,” replied Fortier. .“We don’t necessarily have all the numbers.”.“You can start to ask what types of efficiencies we are getting?” asked Smith. .“That’s a good question,” replied Fortier..During his testimony on May 3, the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Yves Giroux said they could not find the data about the number of federal employees working in the office..“We have heard from a few ministers who indicated there were no studies to prove or deny public employees are more or less productive teleworking,” said Giroux. .“There seems to be a great lack of information in this regard.”.“We have not sent a formal request for information, but we put the question informally to the Treasury Board and several departments,” said Giroux. .“We were given the same answer as you were. There is no comprehensive data across the public service on the proportion of employees who work from home.”
