Newsom issues new return-to-office policy for state workers

DAMAGING STATE PROPERTY. TONIGHT, A MAJOR CHANGE COMING FOR STATE WORKERS. GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S ADMINISTRATION SAYS WORKERS WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO WORK FROM HOME FULL TIME ANYMORE. IT’S A BIG CHANGE FOR STATE WORKFORCE. YEAH, PRETTY BIG NEWS TONIGHT. MANY WORKERS SHIFTED TO FULL TIME TELEWORK DURING THE PANDEMIC. OF COURSE, KCRA 3’S EDIE LAMBERT JOINS US NOW WITH THE CHANGES THE NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION JUST ANNOUNCED. WE OBTAINED A MEMO FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OUTLINING THIS NEW HYBRID TELEWORK POLICY. THE NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION IS DIRECTING ALL STATE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS TO START THIS BY THIS SUMMER. THIS REQUIRES WORKERS TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS A WEEK. THIS WILL START ON JUNE 17TH. REQUESTS FOR MORE DAYS AT HOME WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THE MEMO SAYS THAT SOME AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED POLICIES WITH REQUIRED IN-PERSON DAYS, BUT OTHERS HAVE NOT. THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT’S WHY THEY CREATED THIS NEW, MORE CONSISTENT POLICY. GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S CABINET SECRETARY WRITES IN PART. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VARIED APPROACHES HAVE CREATED CONFUSION AROUND EXPECTATIONS AND ARE LIKELY TO EXACERBATE INCONSISTENCIES ACROSS AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS. THE NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT BRINGING PEOPLE BACK TO THE OFFICE HAS BENEFITS, INCLUDING ADDED COLLABORATION, COHESION AND COMMUNICATION. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE STATE WORKER UNIONS. SO AGAIN, THIS IS COMING UP IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THIS ON JUNE 17TH. AND ANDREA, I’M SURE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE THOSE WORKERS BACK. YEAH, A LOT OF THOSE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WERE PRETTY HAR

Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration announced a new directive on Wednesday that will require state employees to work in the office at least two days a week.The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for remote and hybrid work models in order to prioritize safety. According to a memo from the governor's office, agencies were directed to regularly update their remote work policies based on individual and operational needs.| MORE | Calfornia awards security funds promised for nonprofits and places of worshipThe memo said this dynamic has led to "inconsistencies" and "confusion" across state agencies. All agencies will soon be required to work under a singular policy, which includes two mandatory in-person days a week.The new policy will take effect on June 17 but does not apply to state agencies that have already implemented a consistent remote work policy. Employee requests for more than three days of remote work will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the administration.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration announced a new directive on Wednesday that will require state employees to work in the office at least two days a week.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for remote and hybrid work models in order to prioritize safety.

According to a memo from the governor's office, agencies were directed to regularly update their remote work policies based on individual and operational needs.

| MORE | Calfornia awards security funds promised for nonprofits and places of worship

The memo said this dynamic has led to "inconsistencies" and "confusion" across state agencies. All agencies will soon be required to work under a singular policy, which includes two mandatory in-person days a week.

The new policy will take effect on June 17 but does not apply to state agencies that have already implemented a consistent remote work policy.

Employee requests for more than three days of remote work will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to the administration.

Newsom issues new return-to-office policy for state workers

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