Newsom Initiates the Return-to-Office Movement in California
California's Democratic governor joins a coalition of leaders, including President Donald Trump, in advocating for government employees to resume working from their offices.
TroibNews 
Gov. Gavin Newsom is instructing thousands of California state employees to return to their offices four days a week, part of a larger initiative to encourage in-person work following the pandemic.
This directive, revealed on Monday afternoon, aligns with a growing trend towards returning to on-site government roles, which has crossed various levels of government and political affiliations approximately five years after the pandemic prompted many to work remotely. Notably, former President Donald Trump has been pushing for more federal employees to return to their workplaces, similar to efforts by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie for city staff.
“In-person work makes us all stronger — period," Newsom stated. "When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases."
This latest requirement expands on Newsom's 2024 directive, which mandated state employees to be in the office at least two days a week. The new order impacts around 95,000 workers, who may still receive exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the working arrangements of California's numerous state employees, many of whom are part of unions. Some labor leaders representing these workers have previously expressed opposition to the governor’s push for increased in-office attendance.
Historically, the Newsom administration has adopted a hands-off stance, allowing individual agencies to determine their own remote work policies. However, there has been a growing emphasis on reverting to pre-pandemic practices, with concerns raised about the significant disparities in remote work arrangements across various state departments.
The order also emphasizes that both public organizations and a rising number of private companies have begun to call their employees back, framing a wider return to work as an "operational necessity."
Additionally, it suggested that Trump's initiatives to reduce the federal workforce could inadvertently benefit California by creating opportunities to address gaps in the state workforce.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
This directive, revealed on Monday afternoon, aligns with a growing trend towards returning to on-site government roles, which has crossed various levels of government and political affiliations approximately five years after the pandemic prompted many to work remotely. Notably, former President Donald Trump has been pushing for more federal employees to return to their workplaces, similar to efforts by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie for city staff.
“In-person work makes us all stronger — period," Newsom stated. "When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases."
This latest requirement expands on Newsom's 2024 directive, which mandated state employees to be in the office at least two days a week. The new order impacts around 95,000 workers, who may still receive exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the working arrangements of California's numerous state employees, many of whom are part of unions. Some labor leaders representing these workers have previously expressed opposition to the governor’s push for increased in-office attendance.
Historically, the Newsom administration has adopted a hands-off stance, allowing individual agencies to determine their own remote work policies. However, there has been a growing emphasis on reverting to pre-pandemic practices, with concerns raised about the significant disparities in remote work arrangements across various state departments.
The order also emphasizes that both public organizations and a rising number of private companies have begun to call their employees back, framing a wider return to work as an "operational necessity."
Additionally, it suggested that Trump's initiatives to reduce the federal workforce could inadvertently benefit California by creating opportunities to address gaps in the state workforce.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
