California orders state workers back to office
California state employees are getting codified policy on how often they can work from home, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) office announced Wednesday.
Cabinet Secretary Ann Patterson wrote in a memo acquired by The Hill that the governor’s administration will require all state employees to work at least two days a week from the office starting June 17, standardizing disparate policies among state agencies.
Citing the receding COVID pandemic, Patterson said a standard policy was needed for about half of the state’s 230,000 workers that can work from home because each state department had its unique policy.
The “varied approaches created confusion around expectations and are likely to exacerbate inconsistencies across agencies,” Patterson wrote.
She added that in-person work carried its own benefits that must be considered, including “enhanced collaboration, cohesion, and communication, better opportunities for mentorship, particularly for workers newer to the workforce, and improved supervision and accountability.”
Exceptions will be allowed on a case-by-case basis, she continued, and said she “looks forward to a continued dialogue” on the subject.
The Newsom administration embraced remote work during the COVID pandemic to fight the spread of COVID and keep government work competitive with the benefits of the private sector. As many private sector employers force their workers back in, the government is now slowly following.
The move comes as local city leaders across the country urge companies and governments to encourage in-person work, citing declining downtowns and high office vacancy rates.
About 15 percent of American workers are completely remote, according to U.S. Census data released in February, three times higher than before the pandemic.
Labor unions have generally argued against forced returns, citing a lack of evidence that they are really beneficial to work. Studies have shown that most workers are just as, if not more, efficient when working remotely than in the office.
Patterson said that the labor unions representing California state workers were informed of the decision Wednesday. The Hill has reached out to Service Employees International Union Local 1000, the largest California state employee union, for comment.
Date: | |
Tag: | California |
Filter
-
Restaurants in California are raising menu prices after the state increased the minimum wage for workers in the fast-food industry.
Restaurants in California are raising menu prices after the state increased the minimum wage for workers in the fast-food industry.The Wall Street Journal - World -
17 states challenge federal rules entitling workers to accommodations for abortion
Seventeen states are challenging new federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortionsABC News - Health - Abortion -
17 states sue over rule entitling workers to some abortion accommodations
Republican attorneys general from 17 states have filed a lawsuit challenging a rule entitling workers to some abortion accommodations, alleging the regulation adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is in overreach. The ...The Hill - Politics - Abortion -
17 states challenge federal rules entitling workers to accommodations for abortion
Seventeen states are challenging new federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortionsABC News - Health - Abortion -
Bird flu tests ordered for dairy cattle that cross state lines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has ordered bird flu tests for dairy cattle that cross state lines, it announced Wednesday. “USDA has identified spread between cows within the same herd, spread from cows to poultry, spread between ...The Hill - Politics -
Prison officers traumatized by rate of executions in US death penalty states
Pursuit of ‘non-stop executions’ causing psychological distress to corrections staff as states urged to widen gap between executions. The relentless pursuit of “non-stop executions” by a rump of US death penalty states is exposing prison staff to ...The Guardian - World -
USDA orders dairy cows to be tested for bird flu if moved across state lines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday issued a federal order that any dairy cows being transported from one farm to another across state lines should be tested for bird flu.NBC News - Top stories -
X pushes back at order to hide Sydney church stabbing footage as US user reposts video
Elon Musk’s X says it opposes demands from Australia’s eSafety commissioner that it remove the content globally. Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastSocial ...The Guardian - World -
Angela van den Bogerd shown letter blaming Post Office for sub-postmaster's death
The former executive was being questioned about the Post Office's response to Martin Griffiths taking his own life in 2013.BBC News - Top stories -
Secretary of State Blinken warned Chinese leader Xi that the U.S. was prepared to act if Beijing didn't cut back on its support for Russia's defense industry.
Secretary of State Blinken warned Chinese leader Xi that the U.S. was prepared to act if Beijing didn’t cut back on its support for Russia’s defense industry.The Wall Street Journal - World - China
More from The Hill
-
Riot police drag away protesters at University of Texas as Gaza tensions flare
State troopers in riot gear moved on Monday afternoon to clear out students attempting to occupy a quad at the University of Texas at Austin. Dozens of protesters were arrested on site, escalating tensions that began on Wednesday when the ...The Hill - Politics -
Jill Stein accuses police of assaulting her at protest
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein on Sunday alleged police assaulted her and other demonstrators shortly before being arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis. “Basically, the police ...The Hill - Politics -
US finds Israeli military units violated human rights
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US finds Israeli military units violated human rights The State Department has determined that at least five Israeli ...The Hill - Politics - Israel -
Evening Report — Protests continue to spread on college campuses
A quick recap of the day and what to look forward to tomorrow {beacon} Evening Report © AP Pro-Palestinian protests escalate on college campuses Hundreds of students have been arrested on college campuses across the country as ...The Hill - Politics -
FCC fines wireless carriers
Presented by Microsoft — {beacon} Technology Technology PRESENTED BY The Big Story FCC fines major mobile carriers $200M The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a fine totaling $200 million to the nation’s four largest mobile ...The Hill - Politics