Federal Government & Union spar over returning to office

[dimsum]

Lots of space in 101 these days lol.

As of last year at least, there were entire floors in both NT and ST that you can play floor hockey in.

They took all of the cubicles out and basically it was just carpet.

Or overnight

As someone who sometimes does shifts in my current job, I actually rather work the overnight shifts.

In general, there are less distractions, traffic isn’t as bad, parking is easier…I get more work done.

 

[brihard]

Somewhat related to this topic: DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns

The video mentions that the "safety concerns" are related to assaults on employees.

Rideau and Cumberland’s a bad spot by Ottawa standards. Half a block from a large shelter, it’s in drug central, and between the Rideau Center and the liquor store. While I’d feel alright walking there if necessary, my phone wouldn’t be out and I’d very much have my wits about me. I wouldn’t ever suggest to my wife that she walk there.

 

[Furniture]

Rideau and Cumberland’s a bad spot by Ottawa standards. Half a block from a large shelter, it’s in drug central, and between the Rideau Center and the liquor store. While I’d feel alright walking there if necessary, my phone wouldn’t be out and I’d very much have my wits about me. I wouldn’t ever suggest to my wife that she walk there.

I prefer to walk on Stewart to avoid all the terribleness on Rideau, but I work in 101, which makes it an option.

 

[Rudburg]

Rideau and Cumberland’s a bad spot by Ottawa standards. Half a block from a large shelter, it’s in drug central, and between the Rideau Center and the liquor store. While I’d feel alright walking there if necessary, my phone wouldn’t be out and I’d very much have my wits about me. I wouldn’t ever suggest to my wife that she walk there.

I haven't been to downtown Ottawa in many years, so I'm not very familiar with the area. Thanks for confirming that.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I assume it's now as bored as the people it's supposed to detect

Public servants uneasy as government 'spy' robot prowls federal offices​

Government says robot a tool to optimize workspaces and can't identify individual employees​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/public-servants-uneasy-as-government-spy-robot-prowls-federal-offices-1.7239711

 

[Navy_Pete]

View attachment 85433

The hilarious thing is that is actually the hoteling plan where we will have to sign in for a cubicle on a program that doesn't work yet, and supposed to start in less than a month, but that's basically how the cubes are laid.

So you may be in person to collaborate with people... working on different floors and/or buildings in the same team.

You can either reduce your footprint and hotdesk, or have us in all the time; somehow they are proposing we do both via magic.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The hilarious thing is that is actually the hoteling plan where we will have to sign in for a cubicle on a program that doesn't work yet, and supposed to start in less than a month, but that's basically how the cubes are laid.

So you may be in person to collaborate with people... working on different floors and/or buildings in the same team.

You can either reduce your footprint and hotdesk, or have us in all the time; somehow they are proposing we do both via magic.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Coffee Badging... it's the latest thing

Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon​

Add "coffee badging"(opens in a new tab) to the list of post-pandemic workplace culture coinage to keep track of in 2024.

The term, which was coined by video conferencing tech company Owl Labs in 2023, has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the habit it refers to.

According to Owl Labs, "coffee badging" is when employees of companies with return-to-office (RTO) mandates go into office to "show face" for a few hours, then head back home to finish the work day.

The company's "State of Hybrid Work 2023"(opens in a new tab) report found more than half (58 per cent) of hybrid employees they surveyed admitted to having done it, while a further eight per cent said they haven't, but would like to try.

Now, Amazon appears to be taking aim at the trend.

Earlier this week, Business Insider(opens in a new tab) and the Seattle Times(opens in a new tab) reported they had obtained Slack messages from Amazon workers who said there has been some talk among management of a minimum number of hours per day employees could be expected to spend in the office in order to meet the company's RTO mandate. Amazon announced in 2023 it would require employees to work from the office at least three days a week.

Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon

The term 'coffee badging' has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the workplace trend it refers to.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[Remius]

Coffee Badging... it's the latest thing

Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon​

Add "coffee badging"(opens in a new tab) to the list of post-pandemic workplace culture coinage to keep track of in 2024.

The term, which was coined by video conferencing tech company Owl Labs in 2023, has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the habit it refers to.

According to Owl Labs, "coffee badging" is when employees of companies with return-to-office (RTO) mandates go into office to "show face" for a few hours, then head back home to finish the work day.

The company's "State of Hybrid Work 2023"(opens in a new tab) report found more than half (58 per cent) of hybrid employees they surveyed admitted to having done it, while a further eight per cent said they haven't, but would like to try.

Now, Amazon appears to be taking aim at the trend.

Earlier this week, Business Insider(opens in a new tab) and the Seattle Times(opens in a new tab) reported they had obtained Slack messages from Amazon workers who said there has been some talk among management of a minimum number of hours per day employees could be expected to spend in the office in order to meet the company's RTO mandate. Amazon announced in 2023 it would require employees to work from the office at least three days a week.

Workplace habit of 'coffee badging' prompts reported new policy at Amazon

The term 'coffee badging' has gained some new significance this week with multiple outlets reporting Amazon is allegedly taking measures to counter the workplace trend it refers to.

www.ctvnews.ca

Haven’t see that at work yet. But I have seen people come in late and leave early claiming they were working at home before and after in order to deal with kids, pets etc

 

[brihard]

My new workplace isn’t very amenable to hybrid work just due to the nature of the job, but over time enough non-sensitive and non-urgent administrivia piles up that a day or two from home can be productive for those who work well that way. I don’t personally take advantage of it, but if people are being properly supervised I don’t take issue with managers authorizing it as they see fit.

I know that in my organization the limited positions where hybrid work is an option are both highly sought after and highly scorned. There’s some eating of our own.

 

[MilEME09]

Haven’t see that at work yet. But I have seen people come in late and leave early claiming they were working at home before and after in order to deal with kids, pets etc

Which depending on how flexible the employer is, is fine. When I go to get my kids, I take my phone and tablet with me incase my team needs anything.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Good for him. If you can’t get things done, get out …

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View this content on Instagram

 

[daftandbarmy]

But they all turned up in person at one location to protest, so...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1831828382231011724

 

[dapaterson]

But they all turned up in person at one location to protest, so...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1831828382231011724

Brian Lilley left his wife for Doug Ford's head of communications; he is not in any way, shape or form a journalist.

 

[Furniture]

Well, it appears that the Downtown business that have been crying for more public servants downtown are still not happy.

MSN

Maybe, just maybe, things have gotten more expensive and even with being back in the office people can't afford to go out and buy $5 coffee, and $30 lunches as often as they did back in 2019...

At least one of them seems to "get" it.

Brad Fougere, the executive director of the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas, said that for many, it hasn't gotten any easier, and he's unsure if the mandate will bring about the real change needed.

"During the last return-to-office mandate...we didn't necessarily see the meaningful impact that small businesses were hoping to see downtown," Fougere said.

The revitalization of downtown Ottawa requires moving away from the idea that the civil service is the only thing needed to save downtown, he said, adding that he would like to see more empty buildings converted to housing.



"For places to be animated on a regular basis, you need residents to be going into those spaces," Fougere said.

"The idea that somebody is going to drive in on a regular basis from Orléans to enjoy a street festival that's happening in Centretown isn't necessarily the most realistic expectation," he added.

 

[daftandbarmy]

This time we really, really, really mean it

Federal public servants are to report back to the office again. Their bosses say they mean it this time​

Senior leaders are hoping this third attempt to get bureaucrats back to their desks and cubicles will help make the public service better.

---

OTTAWA – Canada’s public servants are once again being ordered back to the office, but this time the government says it intends to enforce compliance.

Next week, federal public servants are supposed to be back to their desks three days per week, a slight increase over the previous rule of two or three days per week. Executives are supposed to be in their offices four days per week.

The last directive in May laying out Treasury Board’s decision was clear about compliance. This is the government’s third attempt at getting workers to embrace hybrid work arrangements.

“Let’s face it, we put down the requirement for two to three days and there were no consequences for ignoring it. That’s the real issue here. We were too soft with the initial return in obligating people to actually be in the office,” said a senior bureaucrat who is not authorized to speak publicly about the mandate.

“Some people quickly realized, ‘My manager is just going to shake their heads and say, ‘Yeah, do your best, I don’t want an argument.’”

Another senior bureaucrat said every manager knew about employees who weren’t working full days or were juggling work at home with child care, elder care or other reasons, but no one wants to confront it or even talk about it.

Christiane Fox, deputy clerk at the Privy Council Office, is heading a task force of deputies who are planning and monitoring the “state of readiness” for the mandate’s fall rollout.

She said they are braced for resistance and “lots of noise,” but enforcement and compliance will be taken seriously. Employees must comply with the order as a condition of employment and departments are prepared to enforce it to ensure consistency across government.

Federal public servants are to report back to the office again. Their bosses say they mean it this time

Senior leaders are hoping this third attempt to get federal bureaucrats back to their desks and cubicles will help make the public service better.

policyoptions.irpp.org

 

[dapaterson]

The greatest loss in all of this is that there is now an allergy to hiring HQ positions as remote - so instead of hiring the best in Canada and bringing in perspectives from outside the Ottawa bubble, the PS is reverting to hiring the best in Barrhaven.

 

[Furniture]

Employees must comply with the order as a condition of employment and departments are prepared to enforce it to ensure consistency across government.

It will be used to fire a few problem children, but I suspect enforcement will still be as spotty as enforcement of other rules is.

 

[Remius]

The greatest loss in all of this is that there is now an allergy to hiring HQ positions as remote - so instead of hiring the best in Canada and bringing in perspectives from outside the Ottawa bubble, the PS is reverting to hiring the best in Barrhaven.

I’ve been lamenting that for some time. I had an HR Recruiting plan that included outside and remote talent that has been scuttled when we saw the way the winds were blowing…

 

[childs56]

Ultimately if a person is adamant about working from home they can go into work where they are now while looking for that ideal job. When they find that ideal job 20-30years from now they can retire from their current job and then work from home in their new career path.

Workers can try and dictate to the employer their terms of employment but that is not how that usually works. (they can demand all they want)What they can do is make suggestions and file complaints and grievances.
When they do I hope they have all their T crossed and I dotted and are in the right when doing so. So much wasted time on complaints and issues that are not. When genuine complaints, issues and concerns are being pushed to the side.