Toronto Return to Office 2025: Policy and Legal Rights

The City of Toronto has not announced plans to end its current hybrid work model, which requires many city staff to work in person two to three days per week.

At a recent news conference, Mayor Olivia Chow was asked directly about Brampton’s full-time return-to-office policy and whether Toronto would follow suit.

• “In the City of Toronto, workers are mostly at work, everywhere,” she said.
• “Now there are some of the senior administrators and perhaps lawyers… but we already have most of our workers at work all the time because we deliver essential services.”

A city spokesperson confirmed that nearly 75% of Toronto’s 44,000 employees are already working on-site in front-line roles. The rest work remotely or on a hybrid basis.

When asked about the impact of return-to-office mandates on traffic, Chow downplayed the effect, saying, “I don’t think it’s a huge number.”

Brampton’s decision follows the Ontario government’s recent mandate requiring all provincial public servants to return to the office five days a week. Major employers like Rogers, TD, BMO, RBC, and Scotiabank are implementing similar return-to-office (RTO) policies for their staff.

Bottom line: For now, Toronto is maintaining its hybrid policy, with no indication of a city-wide shift to full-time office attendance.

Mayor Chow Has Previously Pushed for More In-Person Work Downtown 

While the City of Toronto currently maintains a hybrid policy, this wasn’t always the tone from City Hall.

In mid-2024, Mayor Olivia Chow publicly urged Canada’s major banks to bring employees back to the office four to five days a week, hoping to revitalize Toronto’s financial district and support local businesses impacted by the shift to remote work.

Her comments came during private meetings with Bay Street CEOs, as reported by the Toronto Star. In response, some bank leaders pushed back — suggesting the City should “set a good example” by calling its own staff back to City Hall.

Shortly after, Toronto’s city manager sent an internal memo encouraging more in-office time for municipal employees — recommending three to four days per week and asking staff to keep cameras on during virtual meetings.

🕒 As of now, however, the City has not announced a full-time return, and Mayor Chow recently said most City of Toronto employees are already working on-site in essential service roles.

Can the City of Toronto Force You Back to the Office?

No — if you’re a non-unionized City of Toronto employee who has been working remotely long term or was hired to work remotely, the municipality can’t automatically force you back to the office without risking a constructive dismissal claim.

That means if in-office work wasn’t part of your original role or has since been replaced by a longstanding remote arrangement — for example, the past five years — requiring a full return to the office could legally allow you to resign and pursue full Ontario severance pay — up to 24 months’ compensation.

Additional reasons why you can’t be forced back include:

• You need accommodation for a disability or medical issue, with support from a doctor
• You’re refusing the return based on a protected right — like caregiving responsibilities or a health and safety concern in the workplace

WATCH: RTO Mandates in Ontario

What to Do If the City of Toronto Tells You to Return

• ✅ Do not quit. Leaving your job could cost you the severance you’re legally entitled to.
• ✅ Find your employment contract. Ontario employment agreements contain details like work location and severance packages
• ✅ Get legal advice. Before you push back or accept a change, talk to an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP

Speak to an Employment Lawyer About Your Return-to-Office Rights

Returning to the office isn’t automatic — even for government workers. If you’re a non-unionized City of Toronto employee and you’ve been told to return full-time, but you’ve been working remotely long-term or were hired to do so, you may not have to go back.

📞 Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP today: 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online. We’re the most positively reviewed employment law firm in Canada, with a proven record of helping employees push back against unfair RTO demands.

• 👥 Over 50,000 clients helped across Canada
• 💰 Secured millions in severance and settlements
• ⚖️ No win, no fee — you don’t pay unless we win (Conditions apply. Not all cases qualify.)
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