Questions remain for federal employees as governments relax physical distancing

As federal offices prepare for the inevitable return to work, Public Services and Procurement Canada has assured us that employees will be coming back to “productive and healthy work environments.” Spokesperson Marc-Andre Charbonneau said in an email statement on April 28 that an increased effort was underway to ensure they will return to safe spaces, with a regimen in place to disinfect “high touch/contact surfaces” twice a day. Hand sanitizers have also been “installed at building entrances.” But there is no mention of whether masks or other protective gear would be available for employees. There was also no mention of whether testing has been conducted, or will be done, before entering federal buildings. Or how, if any, physical distancing would be done once inside federal buildings, from using elevators to sharing common spaces. Many National Capital office towers house hundreds of employees. Whether reassuring or not, additional cleaning measures are being considered when “there is a need to provide specialized disinfection for work environments where if there is a presumed or confirmed case of COVID-19,” according to PSPC. But the department doesn’t acknowledge whether employees or employers have to be informed about potential cases, including those who have recovered from the virus. PSPC indicated that the government will be following the advice of local health authorities, as well as municipal and provincial governments. That will mean that not all federal buildings, including the capital, will necessarily reopen at the same time. Despite several weeks of a massive exit of employees in many federal buildings, PSPC said that “fixed costs will remain unchanged,” such as lease payments and service contracts. It said “there may (however) be a reduction in variable costs, such as utility costs, due to the reduced level of occupancy, within our crown-owned portfolio.” It also said there may be costs to the federal treasury when, and if ,commercial tenants rental costs are deferred for "a three month period effective April 1, 2020.” No mention is made of any extra costs possibly incurred for instance, for communications networks while employees work from home. It’s clear that going back to federal workplaces poses many challenges. Ken Rubin reviews privacy matters and is reachable at kenrubin.ca The Hill Times

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Questions remain for federal employees as governments relax physical distancing

The department doesn’t acknowledge whether employees or employers have to be informed about potential cases, including those who have recovered from the virus.

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Questions remain for federal employees as governments relax physical distancing

The department doesn’t acknowledge whether employees or employers have to be informed about potential cases, including those who have recovered from the virus.

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

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