California government workers are pushing back against a Gov. Gavin Newsom mandate requiring them to return to in-person work four days a week, effective July 1.
As CalMatters reported, “dozens” of California government workers showed up at a recent California Senate hearing to show their support for legislation that would strengthen telework standards for the state’s government agencies.
The Senate’s committee on labor, public employment and retirement voted 4-1 to advance the proposal.
“The measure itself would not stop the governor’s July 1 mandate, which Newsom argues would increase accountability, revitalize downtown Sacramento and improve government services,” CalMatters’ Lynn La wrote.
The bill would, however, enable state agencies to shape their own policies. At the June 17 hearing, Assemblymember Alex Lee, the legislation’s author, cited a 2024 audit that found allowing state workers to work remotely would save the state money and reduce pollution while boosting employee productivity and morale, La wrote.
As La noted, many California unions representing state workers support Lee’s bill, including SEIU Local 1000, which has reportedly given at least $2 million to current California lawmakers.
“As we grapple with the affordability crisis, we want to make sure that our downtowns and urban cores are not places where workers have to be, but where workers want to be,” Lee said at the hearing. “It’s not fair to shackle our office workers to be the entire bedrock for downtowns.”
25 June 2026
Category
HR News Article
