The pendulum is swinging toward the office, especially in large organizations and the public sector, but most workplaces will remain a mix.

What’s happening in Canada (2026)

– Ontario’s provincial public service moved to five days a week in the office from January 5, 2026, and Alberta’s public service followed in February.

– The federal government told core departments that executives must be on site five days a week by May 4, 2026, and other employees at least four days a week by July 6, 2026, up from three days under the rules in place since September 2024.

– The City of Ottawa moved to five days a week for hybrid staff, and some large private employers have also increased in-office requirements.

– Public opinion is mixed. An Angus Reid survey found that a majority supported the then-current three-day federal policy, while views on a full return differed sharply by age, gender, and public-sector status. Unions have pushed back on mandates.

Why it matters for IT

Whatever the policy, your technology must support people in several places.

– Hybrid reliability: home, office, and travel must all work equally well

– Space and equipment: more office days can mean more desks, docks, monitors, and meeting-room technology

– Security: devices and identities need protection wherever they are, which is why Zero Trust matters

– Collaboration tools: meetings with mixed in-room and remote participants need good audio and video

– Costs: office space, equipment, and connectivity budgets shift

Practical steps

1. Decide your policy clearly and communicate the reasons

2. Equip both locations, with docks and peripherals at the office and a standard kit at home

3. Standardize device management so remote and office devices are treated alike

4. Upgrade meeting rooms if hybrid meetings are frequent

5. Measure: collaboration, productivity, retention, and support requests

6. Stay flexible, since requirements and talent markets keep changing

A realistic outlook

Expect more structure (set in-office days), not a return to the pre-2020 model. Businesses that make hybrid work well-supported and secure will find it easier to hire and retain staff.

Sources:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/government-ontario
https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/on-site-presence-public-service.html

DBR Soft supports both office and remote work with secure, standardized IT. Contact us for more information.