Stephanson Doesn’t Get Work-At-Home: MULVIHILL

10/06/2025

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Municipal city manager Wendy Stephanson has it all wrong when it comes to ordering employees back to the office effective in January.

Stephanson knows it, council knows it, employees know it, everyone knows it.

Stephanson’s latest salvo attempting to clarify her otherwise less-than-clear recent policy memo to council resulted in an hours-long discussion between council and senior staff. While acknowledging that “all city employees have adapted to new ways of working during a time of significant change, which speaks to the talent and resilience of the entire workforce,” Stephanson would like all staff to believe that their on-site presence is vital.

It allows employees to benefit from stronger relationships, team practices and processes helping to create an effective work environment and strengthen public trust, Stephanson says. She laments that succession planning, mentoring, coaching, etc., can only be achieved sitting side-by-side in dedicated office space. Blah, blah, blah …

Hopefully, all members of city staff now fully understand that culture is built on connection and that working side-by-side fosters a sense of belonging, improves collaboration, and strengthens the ability to continue delivering service excellence. However, it seems that Stephanson is now saying that those staff who have absolutely no interaction with the general public are suddenly unable to Zoom meetings and improve collaborations thus leaving management unable to succession plan, mentor or coach?

One can only wonder what happened to those talented and resilient employees who were able to fulfill the operational requirements of their position in a work-from-home setting during the lengthy pandemic. Stephanson acknowledged that employees did adapt to new ways of working. So what changed? What happened to create the sudden need to have bums in seats?

Does Stephanson know which councillors Zoom into council meetings? Lest she be unaware, Stephanson may want to check out the few seats around the horseshoe that are rarely occupied. Interesting that one particular councillor who voted in favour of the back-to-the-office policy was working from home that particular day. Go figure.

Perhaps Mayor Mark Sutcliffe feels a tad guilty given he started the back-to-the-office rumblings as a means of saving downtown businesses? Not likely. Does Sutcliffe not understand that once a thought is spoken it takes on a life of its own?

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The city doesn’t have a reliable transit service thus creating hours-long commutes hence the gridlock on our roads and highways. Few at city hall appear to care about climate change, congestion, work-life balance and mental health.

This particular issue isn’t over … not by a long shot. The mental stress that will be unnecessarily inflicted on staff and families hasn’t even reared its ugly head yet.

But it will.

Donna Mulvihill is a community activist and former hospital coordinator.