Study Shows Remote Work Reduces Emissions as Federal Workers Resist Office Mandate
A new study reveals that remote work reduces carbon emissions among federal employees, bolstering the case for flexible work arrangements amid backlash against the government’s latest office mandate. The report, conducted by Carleton University in Ottawa, found that federal employees working remotely generated 25% fewer emissions compared to their in-office counterparts, with even more significant reductions seen in Quebec.
The findings come as public sector unions continue to oppose the government’s recent decision requiring public servants to work on-site at least three days a week, up from the previous two-day minimum.
Quebec Employees Lead in Emissions Reductions
According to the study, Quebec-based federal workers produced 64% lower emissions than in-office employees, thanks to more energy-efficient homes and the province’s reliance on electric heating systems rather than natural gas.
The government-funded research, which surveyed 1,500 employees from departments including the Canada Revenue Agency, measured emissions from transportation, household energy, office spaces, and internet usage. It concluded that an additional day of on-site work adds an average of 235 kilograms of carbon emissions per employee annually.
The report was reviewed by government officials, including members of the Treasury Board Secretariat, the agency leading the return-to-office policy.
Remote Work Cuts Transportation Emissions by Over 60%
The survey found that transportation emissions dropped by more than 60% when employees worked remotely, while household emissions rose by less than 10%. In Quebec, household emissions were lower due to the province’s reliance on electric baseboard heating, compared to Ontario’s greater use of natural gas.
“The cleanness of the energy you consume at home plays a significant role,” said Sepanta, a researcher involved in the study.
Unions Demand Reversal of Office Mandate
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) praised the study, calling it further evidence of the environmental and productivity benefits of remote work.
“This study confirms what we’ve been saying all along: remote work is better work,” said PSAC President Sharon DeSousa in a statement. “The government is squandering an opportunity to build a sustainable, modern workforce.”
PSAC, along with the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), is demanding a full investigation into the three-day in-office policy. The unions argue that the mandate undermines both worker well-being and the government’s own environmental commitments.
Clash Between Productivity and Environmental Goals
Remote work became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 40% of the Canadian workforce operating remotely at its peak, according to Statistics Canada. Many offices, however, have since shifted back toward in-person work, despite evidence showing that hybrid models can improve both employee well-being and productivity.
“The data on emissions, productivity, and job satisfaction all point to hybrid as the ideal model,” said Terri Griffith, a professor at Simon Fraser University.
Griffith criticized the government’s mandate, arguing that requiring more in-office days contradicts the government’s climate goals.
“Mandating a return to the office directly increases emissions, which runs counter to climate-friendly policies,” she added.
Ongoing Tensions Over Remote Work
The debate over remote work has been particularly contentious in the federal workforce. In spring 2023, more than 100,000 PSAC members went on strike, demanding both wage increases and clearer remote work guidelines. Although a tentative agreement was reached, many union members felt blindsided when the government announced its new three-day minimum in-office requirement in early 2024.
Unions remain committed to pushing back against the mandate, warning that it could set back progress on both climate initiatives and workforce modernization.
Source : The Canadian Press
