Ottawa to roll out five-day RTO mandate from January 2026

The City of Ottawa is set to require all employees to return to the office five days a week starting January 1, 2026, as reported by CTV News. 

The return to office mandate, announced in August 2025 by City Manager Wendy Stephanson, establishes full-time office presence as the new standard for municipal workers.

Although the mandate set a five-day requirement, flexibility for hybrid work was confirmed by Ottawa City Council.

In August 2025, a motion passed by the council (15–10) was intended to promote the continued use of such hybrid arrangements by senior managers where appropriate.

The city manager emphasized that flexibility will not be unreasonably denied, with requests evaluated based on service delivery, operational requirements, and workspace availability. 

It was also clarified that hybrid arrangements remain possible when they allow employees to work productively without reducing public service.

City’s Stated Objectives for the Mandate

City officials stated that the return-to-office policy is not based on concerns about staff productivity but on organizational needs. 

The mandate is intended to strengthen the workforce following high turnover, ensure knowledge transfer between senior staff and new hires, and support mentorship and succession planning. 

Other stated goals include increasing workplace presence, improving collaboration, leveraging physical office space, and reinforcing team relationships. 

Various Reactions to the Mandate

Since its announcement in August 2025, Ottawa’s return-to-office mandate has faced divided opinions. Within City Hall, some councillors supported the measure, arguing that responsibility for workforce management should rest with the City Manager rather than elected officials. 

Others opposed the mandate, describing it as detrimental to employees and suggesting it may have been influenced by political pressure after the provincial government encouraged municipalities to adopt similar policies earlier in 2025. 

These claims were rejected by city officials, who emphasized that the decision was based solely on organizational needs.

In addition to political debate, significant resistance came from unions and advocacy groups.  In September 2025, a rally was organized outside City Hall where participants demanded that the mandate be reversed. 

Union representatives argued that the policy demonstrated a lack of respect for employees who had already shown that hybrid work can function effectively. 

They also pointed out that existing collective agreements with the city guarantee employees the right to individual evaluations when hybrid arrangements are requested.

Return-to-Office Trends in Ottawa

As of 2025, it is reported that the City of Ottawa employs approximately 17,100 full-time equivalent positions. While 85% of staff are already required to work on-site, it was reported that 93% are currently in the office full-time. 

In comparison, the Ontario Public Service will require employees to be in the office four days a week starting in November 2025, before moving to full-time in January 2026, while federal public service employees are required to be in the office at least three days a week as of 2025.

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