Ask a downtown Victoria restaurant owner what drives the lunch rush and they’ll tell you it’s the hungry employees that fill the downtown offices.
Many of them are government workers who, for seven months have been working from home, but that’s about to change.
“This rollout of return to work is going to be ministry by ministry, office by office,” said Stephanie Smith, President of the BCGEU, who represents government workers.
“We’re going to make sure this rollout is safe for our membership and safe for their families.”
The B.C. government is telling its thousands of employees, it’s confident for the safe return to office work on a part-time basis.
“We have members who I think are excited to go back to work, who are looking for more clarity, and of course we have members that are concerned,” said Smith.
For those worried, extra safety measures will be in place, like mandatory physical distancing, extra hygiene supplies, and barriers between desks.
Masks, however, won’t be mandatory.
“There is a COVID safety plan for each building, for each unit, and there are measures in place to ensure small numbers of people, that we don’t have big meetings like we used to, that things are still are things done a combination of remotely and in the office,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer.
Both Dr. Henry and the union indicate that some teams need to get back to the office environment.
As for individual employees, accommodations may be made based on someone’s medical information, however, those who have immunocompromised family members at home, will not be exempt from the partial return-to-work mandate.
“I think it can be done safely, I think individuals with concerns need to be heard and listened to, and our union is there to get those resolved,” said Smith.
The return is expected to be gradual, but over the coming weeks, expect downtown Victoria to look a little busier as a major Victoria employer brings its people back to the office.
Kori Sidaway
