Arrive to work at the office of a large Canadian bank on a typical Wednesday morning, and it might take you 20 minutes just to find a place to sit.
Mere weeks into one of Toronto’s largest return-to-office pushes since the pandemic, workers at Canada’s big banks are getting increasingly frustrated by limited space and equipment, several sources told the Star.
In addition to a lack of available desks and other office supplies, many say they are confused about why they’re being asked to return after years of working under more flexible arrangements.
This September, three of Canada’s Big Six banks — RBC, BMO and Scotiabank — introduced stricter, company-wide return-to-office mandates, bringing thousands of workers back at least four days a week.
Other major employers in the GTA are expected to follow suit.
TD Bank’s four-day in-office mandate is set to take effect for most employees in November, while Ontario public sector workers will be required to be in the office five days a week beginning in January. Rogers announced that corporate employees will return four days in October, followed by five days in February.
Despite some employee resistance, Canada’s largest organizations have stood by the move, saying in-person interactions help improve teamwork, culture and engagement.
In an effort to learn how the in-office movement is going as these mandates roll out, the Star spoke with seven bank employees, and agreed to keep their names confidential due to concerns over reprisal from their employers.
‘We have nowhere to sit’
Lack of space was the number one issue cited by employees at Canadian banks.
Workers reported having to try multiple floors in the office towers to find a desk in the mornings, and some found themselves shunted to the kitchen or a meeting room if they couldn’t get one, they said.
“We have nowhere to sit,” said one RBC employee.
Many teams end up sitting apart and some employees said they felt there isn’t much collaboration — one of the major benefits of in-person work touted by the banks.
Some bank employees also cited problems with office equipment. They found that many desks have old monitors — or none at all — and are missing cables, for example.
Some office space and equipment “may have been neglected” during the pandemic, which could explain the issues highlighted by these employees, said Joe Almeida, principal and managing director at commercial real estate firm Avison Young.
Banks addressing gaps
RBC said in an emailed statement that the majority of employees around the world have begun to meet return-to-office expectations over the last two weeks, with some teams adjusting their plans to address capacity issues before fully returning.
“RBC is a relationship-driven bank and we firmly believe that our best moments happen when we’re working together in-person with a shared purpose for our clients and communities,” RBC spokesperson Jeff Lanthier said.
“We know that this has been an adjustment for some employees and we’re supporting them as they work through it,” Lanthier added. “To help ensure a good employee experience, we are continuing to address any gaps around office equipment so that we can bring our people together in environments that bring out their best.”
In an internal RBC document addressing common return-to-office questions seen by the Star, the bank warned employees that if they fail to comply with expectations, they could face “corrective action,” including deductions to their year-end performance ratings and compensation.
The bank also asked workers to ensure they are tapping their access badges upon entry every morning.
“There is a lot more fear now,” said one banker, adding that they don’t want to risk losing their job, especially with Canadian unemployment rising.
“I’m constantly fighting with RBC policy while trying to support my team to function the best that they can within that,” said another RBC manager. “I am being vocal about this because I genuinely want to be able to do my job better because I love my job.”
In the document, RBC also encouraged employees to “be creative with space.” It suggested that those struggling to concentrate due to noise and distractions should consider investing in “productivity tools,” including noise-cancelling headphones and “time-blocking techniques.”
A spokesperson for TD said executives will need to come in at least four days a week starting in October, with non-executives joining them in November.
“To ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition, some regions and business areas will phase in gradually, allowing us to prepare our spaces with care,” the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.
“Our real estate team is working hand-in-hand with business leaders to create well-equipped work environments that foster collaboration, innovation, and a renewed sense of community.”
BMO reiterated that it has invested in “innovative workplaces,” such as BMO Place in Toronto, which are designed to promote collaboration and problem solving.
The bank said it currently expects employees to work from the office four days per week “where existing real estate capacity permits.”
Scotiabank emphasized the benefits of in-person work in a statement, including stronger culture and sense of belonging.
It said teams will be asked to come in more often, with the goal of reaching four days on-site across the bank over time.
Office leasing rebounds
With the rise of remote work in 2020, corporate Canada quickly gave up office space while continuing to grow their workforce. Financial sector jobs rose by about 20 per cent over the past five years, according to data supplied by Avison Young.
Public administration jobs saw a similar increase, while other professional service jobs jumped 34 per cent.
Now, the banks and other employers are reversing course, hiring workplace consultants and leasing more office space to bring workers back.
In the second quarter of 2025, Toronto’s downtown saw its strongest quarterly office leasing activity since the fourth quarter of 2018, according to Avison Young.
“Transactions are being concluded as we speak,” said Almeida. Demand is high, especially for modern, well-situated towers — the so-called “trophy” buildings.
But setting up new office space can take around six to eight months, he added, meaning workers will likely struggle with the lack of room for a while as their frustration continues to grow.
