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The employees say those changes came directly from Brig.-Gen. Virginia Tattersall. No other organization at National Defence Headquarters (Carling) has changed its approach to teleworking.

Two weeks’ notice of the change were provided so those who had taken DND up on its suggestion to work from home are now scrambling to change their personal circumstances. After being approved last year to work at home, some DND employees cancelled their daycare arrangements. Others gave up their parking passes at the Carling Campus or made carpooling arrangements based on their specific circumstances.

There was no business reason given for the change in the telework arrangement.

Some employees noted that the motto of DGCB is “People First.”

DGCB consists of 93 military and 301 public servant positions.

The Department of National Defence says the change at DGCB was the result of a management decision. No specific reason for the change was provided.

However, DND points out, there is no entitlement for employees to be able to work from home. In addition, the federal government is under no obligation to provide parking to employees, the department added.

“As widely communicated, a Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) is voluntary and not a change in terms and conditions of employment — as such, approval remains at the discretion of the manager and should not be viewed as a right or an entitlement,” the DND noted in a statement to Defence Watch. “Many factors contribute to the assessment of the feasibility and suitability of Telework and Compressed Work Week flexibility options – clearly not all jobs and roles at DND will be able to accommodate flexibility.”