Air Canada has enacted a “Return to the Workplace Plan” to transition employees working remotely back into the workplace, beginning Nov. 15. The plan, developed in compliance with Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines, will use a hybrid approach combining on-site and remote work options to give employees flexibility and confidence as they return to their pre-pandemic work routines, says the airline.

“While frontline employees at Air Canada have attended work running the operation throughout the pandemic, for which I thank and commend them, since March 2020 a significant number have worked remotely pursuant to Federal Public Health directives,” says Air Canada president and CEO Michael Rousseau.

“Now, with caseloads falling nationally, Air Canada’s mandatory workplace vaccination policy, and other company health measures, it is possible for people to begin a structured return to the office and safely resume a more normal work life.”

Rousseau says the plan takes “a balanced approach – meeting the needs of those eager to work again in-person with their colleagues and others who may prefer to continue, for personal or professional reasons, working remotely certain days of the week.”

Beginning Nov. 15, those Air Canada employees who are presently working off-site will start a graduated return to the workplace, with options to continue working set days remotely.

To ensure the health and safety of employees in the workplace, the airline has put the following policies in place:

• A mandatory vaccination policy requires all active employees to be fully vaccinated

• All visitors and anyone entering company buildings are required to be fully vaccinated

• Employees will be strongly encouraged to wear a face mask whenever outside of their personal workspaces or when interacting with others

• Physical distancing is required where practical

• Home screening programs continue to be offered and their use encouraged

• Hand sanitizer and disinfection products will continue to be readily available.

“For individuals, companies or any organization to achieve their full potential requires personal connections and interactions,” says Rousseau. “This makes the return of Canadians to the workplace a necessary step in the recovery of our society and economy from the pandemic’s isolating effects. As a country, we can and must begin to resume our pre-pandemic routines, especially as our high vaccination rates, effective public health policies and the sacrifices made by all of us to beat COVID-19 have created the conditions to do so safely.”