City of Hamilton releases plan for future flexible work models and return to the workplace strategy: Hamilton@Work

HAMILTON, ON – Earlier today, the City of Hamilton’s General Issues Committee (GIC) received a staff presentation and three reports related to COVID-19 recovery efforts and the City’s plan for more flexible working arrangements, future workplace strategies and return to the workplace plan – Hamilton @ Work. 

Hamilton @ Work is the City’s plan for considering new ways of working, a changed work culture, how and where our employees are most productive, ongoing health and safety factors, evolved business needs, and more. Hamilton @ Work also provides information about plans for returning City staff to municipal workplaces and setting up staff for success in long term work from home and hybrid work models.

Quick facts

• Since March 2020, approximately 20% of the City’s workforce has continued working from home, with essential and public-facing municipal service staff returning to the workplace as services reopened to the public.
• The City had been piloting more flexible work arrangements and considering future workplace strategies since long before COVID-19.
• As one of Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Regional Employers for 2021, the City of Hamilton understands the importance of keeping up with employment trends to attract and retain the best and brightest candidates, so we are able to deliver superior public service to the residents of Hamilton.
• Going forward, the City will offer four main work models – Office Employees, Home Employees, Hybrid Employees and Mobile/Frontline Employees.
• Return to the Workplace plans for those who will be returning are focused on three main considerations: health and safety, technology and facilities.
• No date for the return of staff has been identified in the plan. To determine the start date for returning staff to the workplace, the City will take advice from our local Medical Officer of Health and will review the COVID-19 situation and variants of our concern in our community. A return  date will be shared with staff with at least four weeks’ notice.

Continuing to creatively provide services to our residents throughout the pandemic has demonstrated that our staff are able to be productive and effective while working in different environments – Hamilton @ Work was created to recognize and advance this progress.

Throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of City employees and residents visiting municipal facilities has remained a top priority for the City of Hamilton. As we begin to bring more people back into our facilities, our policies and procedures around cleaning, physical distancing, hand hygiene, health screening, personal protective equipment and communication are essential as we remain focused on ensuring we limit the spread of COVID-19 in our workspaces. These health and safety guidelines, combined with the Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Verification Policy(PDF, 185.13 KB) for all municipal employees, are important pieces of our COVID-19 recovery at the City of Hamilton.

“As we look ahead and plan for a gradual return to work, ensuring the health and safety of our City staff, who provide us with services we all rely upon, is paramount. Exploring the benefits of a flexible work arrangement and how that looks for City employees is a prudent and responsible approach which also benefits taxpayers. There are ample learnings from the past 18-months that will help inform what a return to work process will look like.” - Mayor Fred Eisenberger 

Additional resources

• Hamilton @ Work COVID-19 RECOVERY: Future Work Models & Return to the Workplace Strategy