Beginning July 1, thousands of California state employees who have been working remotely or on hybrid schedules will be required to spend at least four days a week in the office under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office mandate.
The policy affects most telework-eligible state employees and marks a significant shift away from the flexible work arrangements adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials say in-person work improves collaboration, accountability and the delivery of public services, while allowing limited flexibility for some employees on a case-by-case basis.
The move has drawn strong opposition from public employee unions, including SEIU Local 1000, which has filed legal challenges and continues to protest the mandate. Union leaders argue the change will increase commuting costs, worsen traffic, make recruiting and retaining employees more difficult, and reverse years of successful telework. Despite the ongoing dispute, the mandate is scheduled to take effect July 1.
Literally the only workers I don’t feel bad for having to go back to the office. If you’re going to suckle at the taxpayer teat, you better at least pretend to work.
The union is worried about traffic.
Either get your behind back to the office or hit the unemployment line it’s that simple! Covid has been over for years an dit’s time to return to reality no more excuses!
When reality strikes.
Does that mean that the workers who are getting paid to go to work and are refusing to do so actually have to go to work?
Oh say it isn’t so!!! Those poor poor people!
What will they want next? A 1000% pay raise???
I remember when not showing up for work would get ya fired, and even being consistently late for work would get ya fired, too.
General Newsom wants to see all of his troops on hand and have them pledge allegiance to him. 🤣
Why?
Maybe we should consider the environmental cost of putting all these cars back on the road or the increase in traffic etc etc. if the person has proven to be efficient while not in the office, they should be allowed to stay remote. What benefit do we get with forcing them (or other companies) back into the office?
i work predominantly remotely, but I have a requirement to badge into an office x amount of times a week. So I literally drive in, badge in, go
nome and work from there.
Foe me and others, working remotely really helped with the life/work balance that our leaders suggest we should have. Though I work more hours while working from home, I have a better life/work balance because I am not sitting in Bay Area commute traffic for an hour plus each way.
I for one think we should reconsider the ways we work … isn’t that what Newscum is about, being progressive? Well out your actions where your mouth is!
Because all of the local businesses are whining! Along with BART and all of the revenue (theft) from the bridge tolls.
And remember this – the few ruin it for everyone.
Parent I totally agree. We need to change our thinking and adopt policy’s that benefit our workers. Working from home is possible for certain jobs and should be implemented whenever possible.
Nope working from home allows interuptions and less creativity that would not exist at the office. Your job is not there to conform to your desires it is there to pay the bills. So get up get ready and get your behind into work or hit the unemployment line. You are no different than the generations prior that didn’t cry they just went and did what needed to be done without whining!
When I worked in an office, this is something I would have loved…..working Monday through Thursday, 10 hours/day, and then off on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.
Great! Make them ride BART back to work again and LIKE it!
“make recruiting and retaining employees more difficult” LOL, nobody believes that will be an issue. Almost none of those employees could ever get a comparable job/salary/benefits in the private sector. California State employees are on the GRAVY TRAIN!! (not the bullet train)
If they are doing their jobs from home why do this? Our roads are crowded enough during commute hours. Not to mention the cost of maintaining a workspace aka buildings for the workers. Let them work from home.
I want what I want so give it to me! Go to work pay your bills and stop whining!
They have been and yet you are the one whining.
It’s not about productivity. The real reason is rich people heavily invested in commercial real estate have huge paper losses on their books since Covid. They’ve been pressuring both private and government employers to bring people back to the office to reduce vacancy rates either directly or indirectly. If you drive to work you’ll likely buy lunch next door and that helps keep those leases stay afloat. You’ll also pay for parking, maybe shop at some other business nearby, etc. Ending WFH is about stimulating the local economy.