Staff Reports
Attention all Californians! Listen up, because Governor Gavin Newsom is bringing state workers back to the office at least two days a week. That’s right, after allowing remote work for what feels like forever, the governor’s office is cracking down and making it mandatory for state employees to show their faces in the office. They’re calling it a “hybrid telework policy” and it’s happening whether you like it or not.
The move was shared in a memo from Cabinet secretary Ann Patterson, and she wasn’t messing around. She pointed out that the different approaches to remote work were causing chaos and confusion, and it was time to set some ground rules. Patterson made it clear that the governor’s office is all about that in-person collaboration and cohesion, and they believe this transition to a hybrid structure will enhance their ability to serve Californians effectively.
But don’t worry, there are exceptions on a “case-by-case” basis, so if you really, really hate going into the office, you might be able to squeeze out of it. Patterson also made sure to mention that nearly half of state employees had been reporting in-person anyway because their jobs required it, so it’s not like everyone was lounging on their couch in their pajamas all this time.
And it’s not just California making the move back to the office – Washington, D.C. and the federal government have also been rolling back their remote work policies. It seems like the era of working in your sweatpants is coming to an end, folks. So get ready to dust off those work clothes and head back to the office, because the governor says so!
