Workplace Watch: The Slow Fade of Remote Work in Canada

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Trend Alert: Remote Work on the Retreat Across Canadian Business Consulting

After years of remote and hybrid work becoming the new normal, Canada is experiencing a noticeable shift that's particularly impacting business consulting and professional services: working from home is steadily declining. Labour market data and workplace surveys reveal that employers across sectors are tightening in-office requirements, with business consulting firms in Canada leading the charge back to traditional office environments.

While hybrid arrangements persist, the fully remote model is contracting, particularly affecting consulting services professionals in finance, technology, operations management, and strategic advisory roles. As of May 2024, only 18.7% of Canadians worked primarily from home, a noticeable drop from the 24.3% recorded in May 2021, according to Statistics Canada.

Major Signal: RBC's Enhanced Office Requirement Impacts Consulting Partners

In a significant development, Royal Bank of Canada has asked employees to be in office four times a week starting in September, marking one of the most assertive return-to-office mandates by a major Canadian employer in 2025. This decision has ripple effects across the business consulting firm ecosystem that serves major financial institutions.

The move affects not only RBC's substantial workforce of more than 94,000 full-time employees but also impacts consulting and business services providers who work closely with the bank. Business consultants specializing in financial services, operations management consulting, and business strategy consulting are adapting their service delivery models to meet increased on-site requirements.

RBC first started ramping up mandatory days in the office in the spring of 2023, when the lender told employees to return at least three days a week. This latest increase represents a clear escalation that's influencing how consultancy services operate across Canada's financial sector.

What's Driving the Shift Back to the Office in Professional Services

Enhanced Client Collaboration for Business Consultants

Business consultant in Canada professionals are finding that clients increasingly prefer face-to-face interactions for complex projects. Operations management consultant roles, marketing consultant positions, and sales consultant engagements are particularly affected, as these roles traditionally rely on close client collaboration and real-time problem-solving.

Specialized Consulting Services Requiring On-Site Presence

Several consulting specialties are seeing stronger return-to-office trends:

• Operations consulting and operations consultant roles requiring facility assessments

• Marketing consulting and digital marketing consultant positions involving creative collaboration

• Marketing consulting services that benefit from in-person brainstorming sessions

• Internet marketing consultant roles requiring direct client strategy sessions

  
  

Technology and Infrastructure Consulting Adaptations

Software consulting firms and software consultant professionals are adapting to hybrid models that balance remote development work with on-site client meetings.

Consultation software providers are experiencing increased demand for tools that support seamless transitions between remote and in-office work.

Cloud consulting specialists and cloud infrastructure consultant professionals are finding that while technical work can be done remotely, cloud infrastructure solutions implementation often requires on-site presence. Cloud infrastructure consulting firms are restructuring their service delivery models accordingly.

Financial and Advisory Services Leading the Change

Financial Consulting Sector Transformation

The financial advisory and financial consulting sectors are experiencing the most significant shifts toward office-based work. Financial consultants and finance advisers are reporting increased client expectations for in-person meetings, particularly for complex advisory services.

Finance consulting opportunities are increasingly specifying on-site requirements, with many positions requiring 3-4 days of office presence weekly. This trend is reshaping how financial advisory services are delivered across Canada's major financial centers.

Project and Data Analytics Consulting

Project management consultant roles and project management consulting services are adapting to hybrid models that prioritize in-person collaboration for critical project phases. Project consultant positions increasingly emphasize the importance of face-to-face stakeholder management.

Data analytics consulting and data analytics consulting services providers are finding that while technical analysis can be performed remotely, client presentations and data and analytics consulting strategy sessions benefit from in-person delivery.

Big data analytics consulting firms are restructuring their engagement models to accommodate increased on-site requirements.

Cybersecurity and IT Consulting Adaptations

Security Consulting Evolution

Cybersecurity consulting firms and cybersecurity consultant professionals are navigating unique challenges as they balance security requirements with return-to-office mandates. Consulting cybersecurity services often require on-site assessments and implementation support.

Information security consultant roles and information security consulting services are adapting to provide hybrid delivery models that maintain security standards while meeting client expectations for in-person collaboration.

IT and Technology Consulting Services

Business IT consulting providers and firms offering IT consulting small business services are experiencing varied impacts. While technical implementation can often be performed remotely, small business IT consulting relationships frequently benefit from regular on-site presence.

Project delivery consultant roles in technology implementation are seeing increased requirements for on-site presence during critical project phases. Automation testing consultant positions and test automation consultant roles are adapting to hybrid models that balance remote development with on-site collaboration.

Current Canadian Workplace Statistics for Consulting Services

Based on recent market research, the Canadian consulting landscape shows:

• As of Q1 2025, nearly one third (29 per cent) of new consulting agency job postings are for hybrid roles, more than twice the number of fully remote ones (12 per cent)

• Business consulting firms are leading the trend toward structured hybrid arrangements

• Major consulting services providers are implementing 3-4 day office mandates

• Consultancy services specializing in client-facing work are seeing the strongest return-to-office requirements

  
  

Implications for Consulting Firms and Independent Consultants

For Business Consulting Firms

Business consulting firms in Canada face several strategic considerations as they navigate this transition:

Service Delivery Model Restructuring: Consulting and business services providers must balance remote efficiency with client expectations for in-person collaboration. This particularly affects business strategy consulting and operations management consulting engagements that benefit from face-to-face problem-solving.

Talent Attraction and Retention: Business consultants and specialized professionals like marketing consultants, operations consultants, and financial consultants may need to reassess location preferences and flexibility expectations.

Client Relationship Management: Consulting services providers must invest in workplace experiences that support both internal collaboration and client engagement requirements.

For Independent Consultants and Specialists

Individual consultants across specialties face evolving expectations:

Service Positioning: Digital marketing consultant professionals, internet marketing consultant specialists, and software consultant experts may need to emphasize their ability to provide both remote and on-site services.

Geographic Considerations: Finance advisers and project management consultant professionals may need to consider proximity to major business centers for regular client engagement.

Technology Investment: Cloud infrastructure consultant specialists and data analytics consulting providers must invest in tools that support seamless hybrid service delivery.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Canadian Consulting Services

The transformation affecting major employers like RBC represents a significant milestone in Canada's consulting landscape. Business consulting, financial advisory, cybersecurity consulting, and IT consulting services are all adapting to new hybrid models that prioritize structured in-person collaboration.

Consulting agencies and independent professionals will need to balance operational efficiency with evolving client expectations for face-to-face engagement. Success in this new environment will depend on how well consultancy services can demonstrate value through both remote efficiency and enhanced in-person collaboration.

The Canadian consulting services sector of 2025 and beyond will likely be characterized by more structured hybrid arrangements rather than the flexible remote-first policies that defined the immediate post-pandemic period. This evolution reflects both changing business priorities and client expectations for comprehensive consulting and business services delivery.

Business consulting firms that successfully navigate this transition will be those that can offer flexible, high-quality service delivery across multiple engagement models while maintaining the personal relationships that drive successful consulting outcomes.