Employment lawyer on an employer’s decision to return to the office

For many provinces across the country, COVID-19 health restrictions have been lifted. A return to some form of normalcy has encouraged many businesses to request a return to the physical workplace and the office. Are employers permitted to return to a pre-pandemic work arrangement as some employees have worked for so long remotely?

Alex Lucifero, an Ottawa employment lawyer and Managing Partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with Global News and stated employers are generally permitted to request a return to the office.

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“It is ultimately, for the most part, the employer’s decision,” Lucifero states. “For those employees who have been working from home temporarily as a result of COVID and it’s been made clear to them that it is a temporary measure … the employer in those cases does have the right to return employees back to the office.”

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Lucifero goes on to explain that there could be allowances made for employees with medical conditions. “With a doctor’s note that employee would be allowed to continue working from home,” said Lucifero.