California Gov. Newsom Orders a Return to In-Person Work

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to see California state employees spending more time in the office.

Gov. Newsom recently issued an executive order that gives all California state agencies and departments within his administration until July 1, 2025 to update their hybrid telework policies to a default of at least four days of in-person work each week.

According to a statement from Newsom’s office, the order stipulates that further telework flexibilities will be granted on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the March 3 order as well as existing policies and legal obligations. The return-to-office mandate applies to state agencies under Newsom’s administration, but also encourages independent state offices in California—the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State, for instance—to follow suit.

State agencies under Newsom’s administration must also develop plans to accommodate the increased in-office presence, including with respect to workplace facilities and employee transportation options, according to the order.

“State employees are the backbone of our government, and we are blessed in California with public servants who devote their time and talents to the smooth operation of critical services and public infrastructure,” said Gov. Newsom, in a statement.

“In-person work makes us all stronger—period. When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases. That means better service, better solutions and better results for Californians, while still allowing flexibility.”

Initial employee reaction suggests that at least some impacted California government workers don’t share that view.

KCRA-TV in Sacramento spoke to a number of state workers in the hours following Gov. Newsom’s announcement. California state worker Kathryn Coke was among them, telling KCRA that she chose to return to the office five days a week even before the March 3 executive order. Coke said she hasn’t seen “any benefit to my own personal productivity being in the office five days per week,” adding that she has “no idea where they’re going to fit everyone.

“Our floor is completely full on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Coke said.

Another state employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told KCRA that the mandate will have a negative effect on employees’ work-life balance.

“I know one of the things they’re going to say about us coming back, is for collaboration purposes, but, like, honestly, we do a lot of collaboration on Microsoft Teams and that works great,” the worker said.

Anica Walls, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000, called Gov. Newsom’s directive “out of touch, unnecessary and a step backward.”

“State employees kept this state running through the pandemic, proving that remote and hybrid work increase productivity, improve work-life balance and make state jobs more competitive—all while saving taxpayer dollars,” Walls said in an SEIU statement.

“Forcing workers back into the office hits them financially. Many will face higher costs for gas, parking, and commuting—expenses that telework helped avoid. At a time when inflation, housing costs and gas prices are squeezing working families, this mandate only makes things harder.”