Public servants with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) who have been teleworking full-time for the past several years from cities such as Montreal are now being required to work in offices in the National Capital Region.

The workers were hired before or during the COVID-19 pandemic to work remotely, and some say they’re being forced to resign because they can’t relocate.

“I’m angry,” said one employee in French whose identity Radio-Canada agreed to protect because they fear reprisal from the employer.

Like others who spoke to Radio-Canada, the public servant said their family and personal circumstances make it difficult for them to move to the Ottawa-Gatineau region, nor can they commute there three or more times a week.