GC Remote Working/Home/Remote Office

Your GC Remote Office

Working remotely is the reality for many public servants during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it is a circumstance that many of us are not used to. The Canada.ca website produced by Treasury Board has put together helpful information to help GC workers through this transition. Check it out here.

Working remotely requires a workspace that promotes efficiency and effectiveness. GC workers need to take the time to create the right conditions for success and wellness, including ensuring a workspace with:

• a dedicated workspace
• enough natural light
• minimal distractions

While most of us likely have what we need to work from home, each department reviews requests for additional equipment, on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing employees who are delivering critical services and those for whom the employer has a duty to accommodate. You can discuss your workspace with your manager if you need guidance or assistance in following your organization‘s directions for remote work.

Accessibility and the Remote Office

Experts from Shared Services Canada (SSC)’s Accessibility, Accommodations and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT) team supports public service employees who have disabilities, injuries or require workplace adjustments. The AAACT team continues to serve clients during the COVID disruption via audio and video conference, and can ship equipment directly to where you are working. AAACT also loans adaptive equipment and software for indeterminate employees to try out, and AAACT’s Lending Library can provide quick access to certain solutions to short-term employees for the duration of their employment.

If you need assistance with job accommodations, adaptive solutions and technology is to contact the AAACT team by email or reach them by phone at 819-994-4835, 1-866-44-AAACT (1-866-442-2228) or by TTY 819-994-3692 Monday to Friday, 9a.m. to 5p.m. Eastern Time.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has some easy-to-read, question-and-answer fact sheets covering a wide range of workplace health and safety topics, including ergonomics and telework. You can find them here.

FlexGC Informal Network

The FlexGC Network is a grassroots collective of public servants who are volunteering their time to share best practices and provide peer-to-peer and peer-to-team guidance to any Government of Canada employee or manager who needs help or support with flexible, remote, and distributed work. FlexGC is happy to connect with managers, individuals and teams, and can offer support on everything from team dynamics and work norms, setting up your home office, mental health and wellbeing, and working while parenting among others. You can find the FlexGC Network on Twitter @FlexGCinfo on Medium and on GCcollab.

The network is sharing a useful ergonomics guide for remote working. You can find it here in English .

The GC Flex group is available to present to teams, networks or communities of practice. They can share advice about remote and flexible work including a segment on setting up your own home office. This can be a workshop, facilitated meeting, presentation or 1:1 or 1:team coaching with a Network member. You can reach out to the group by email.

The Canadian School of Public Service

The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) has a host of information, including job aides on topics, including working virtually. You can find tips for managers and tips for team members here:

Tips for working virtually.

The site also has a three-part podcast series on working virtually.

• Part 1: Remote Work, Defined
• Part 2: Remote Team Recipes
• Part 3: 9 Ways to Elevate Your Remote Work Game

Twitter: What does your remote office look like ? The GC Remote Worker Wiki has helpful information to help GC workers make the transition to a functional remote working office. Find out more here.

September 2020