Exclusive: California Governor Gavin Newsom Implements Two-Day Office Work Requirement for State Employees Starting in June
In a memo shared exclusively with POLITICO, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a new government-wide policy that will require state employees in California to work from the office for at least two days a week, starting in June. The decision aims to strike a balance between remote work and in-person collaboration as the state gradually recovers from the effects of the pandemic.
According to a memo from Cabinet Secretary Ann Patterson, state employees will be required to return to the office on June 17. The memo states that workers may be eligible for exceptions on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration individual circumstances and the needs of their respective departments.
The directive holds great importance as it marks a significant policy shift for the administration. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the leaders of the state’s approximately 150 agencies, departments, and offices have been given the autonomy to establish their own remote work policies for the state’s 240,000 workers.
Different agencies had different rules when it came to white-collar workers and remote work. This meant that even for similar classifications, the rules varied from one agency to another. Some agencies allowed employees to work remotely on a full-time basis.
In the memo, Patterson expressed concern over the diverse approaches taken, stating that they have led to confusion and are likely to worsen inconsistencies across agencies and departments.
Returning to the office offers numerous benefits, including enhanced collaboration, cohesion, and communication. It also provides better opportunities for mentorship, especially for workers who are new to the workforce. Moreover, it improves supervision and accountability among employees.
Background: Governor Newsom was an early advocate for remote work during the pandemic, and his administration actively promoted its advantages. They even created a data dashboard (which was taken down on March 29) to showcase the miles saved and the subsequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this initiative, cubicles in various offices were made smaller, and employees willingly relinquished their coveted long-term parking spots.
According to the memo, Patterson noted that approximately 50% of state employees were required to physically attend work during the pandemic. This group included prison staff, janitors, groundskeepers, and various other individuals.
Some organizations, such as the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, have already begun bringing employees back to the office as early as 2022. In their case, employees are required to report to the office three days per week. Similarly, the Department of Public Health and various departments within the Natural Resources Agency have also started implementing in-office requirements this year, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The administration initially prioritized the need to remain competitive with the private sector in terms of remote work. However, it is worth noting that many private sector companies are also transitioning back to office spaces.
State worker unions have been actively opposing strict return-to-office mandates, expressing concerns about potential health risks. They argue that remote work has proven to be equally productive for many employees.
However, the administration has also been under pressure to bring employees back to offices. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has been advocating for the return of workers downtown in order to stimulate the local economy.
Different states have implemented different strategies when it comes to their return-to-office policies.
Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul, state agencies in New York now have the flexibility to establish their own remote work policies. However, most of these policies still mandate that employees spend at least some portion of their workweek in the office. In June 2022, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City initially mandated that municipal employees return to their desks for the full five-day workweek. However, due to concerns over high vacancy rates in the workforce, he later adjusted this policy.
Patterson mentioned that the change would be communicated to the unions by the state Human Resources Department.