OTTAWA, ON, July 6, 2026 /CNW/ - As the federal government pushes ahead with its return-to-office mandate, public service professionals are being sent back to overcrowded, outdated and sometimes unsafe workplaces. On Wednesday, July 8, PIPSC will bring those realities to Bank Street and Laurier Avenue in Ottawa.

The action will feature "workplace issue" creatures, stickers, leaflets and information for members on their return-to-office rights.

PIPSC members have reported overcrowded offices, outdated buildings, disruptive workspaces, employees forced to work from cafeterias or cramped cubicles, teams taking video calls from different floors of the same building, and workplaces dealing with pest infestations.

What: PIPSC return-to-office workplace health and safety action
When: Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bank Street and Laurier Avenue, Ottawa
Spokesperson: PIPSC Vice President Katie Francis
Visuals: Foam-core "workplace issue" creatures, stickers, member leafleting and public engagement

"Good workforce planning reflects evidence, consultation and operational realities, and this policy ignores all three," said PIPSC Vice President Katie Francis. "Canadians want results, not roll calls, but this government is pushing a one-size-fits-all mandate that creates chaos, increases costs and puts workers' health and safety at risk."

PIPSC is calling for "presence with purpose" – office attendance when there is a clear operational reason, not a blanket mandate driven by optics.

PIPSC represents over 80,000 public-sector professionals across the country, most of them employed by the federal government. Follow us on Facebook, on Bluesky and on Instagram.

SOURCE Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)