Your boss wants you back in the office, even if you’re sick

You know, sometimes the stories that come across my desk, they just make you wonder. I saw this one, and my first thought was, *mon dieu*, what are we doing here? Two of our federal public service unions, they're saying that accommodation requests for remote work, especially for medical reasons, are getting denied more and more often.

It's like, you have these folks, some of whom commute from places like Rockland or even across the river from Aylmer, and they're being told, "Nope, you gotta come in." And for what? So someone can watch you sit at your desk on Albert Street? This isn't about productivity, not really. This feels like a top-down directive, a performative act of "getting back to normal" that's completely ignoring the actual well-being of the people who keep this city, and frankly, this country, running. It's the kind of decision that feels very... bureaucratic, no?

### What This Means for Ottawa

This isn't just some abstract policy; it hits home for so many people right here. Think about it:

* **Commute Chaos:** More cars on the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, more packed OC Transpo buses, more frustration.

* **Local Businesses:** Fewer people working downtown means fewer grabbing lunch on Sparks Street, fewer stopping at Bridgehead for coffee. It changes the whole rhythm of the core.

* **Quality of Life:** For someone with a chronic condition, being forced into a long commute and an office environment can genuinely impact their health. It's not just an inconvenience; it's a barrier.

We're a city built on the public service. When their well-being is overlooked, it trickles down and affects everyone. The real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off it.

Simone Okafor-Bouchard, MiTL Sports Desk.

You want the full download on this? My colleagues on the morning show dive into these kinds of stories every day. Check them out at mornings.live.