Private sector employees made to go back to the office: Employment lawyer on CFRA

Interview Summary

Amazon, among many other large private-sector companies, has implemented mandates requesting employees return to the physical workplace. While some companies have offered a hybrid work model, others have left little room for flexibility. What is the purpose of these mandates and do employees have any room to negotiate?

Travis Carpenter, an Ontario employment lawyer and Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, joined Kristy Cameron on 580 CFRA to discuss the rights of employees and their options.

Interview Notes

• Amazon strategy: Carpenter noted that Amazon’s return-to-work policy will upset employees. “Maybe if they’re trying to cut down their headcount…what they’re doing is putting in a policy they know people won’t like and maybe they’ll potentially resign.” Carpenter presumed these policies could largely be due to the struggling finances of many businesses, particularly in the tech sector.
• Reaction to mandates from younger staff: “I think a lot of the younger employees are going to be a lot less open to it,” Carpenter commented. “It’s a growing trend from younger people wanting a better work-life balance.”

Related Resources

For further insights and discussions related to employee rights, explore the following resources:

• Rise of hybrid work