Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced a sweeping change for state employees, ending remote work and introducing a new policy that allows parents to bring their infants to the office. The reforms, part of Sanders’ Arkansas Forward initiative, take effect October 1 and are aimed at boosting efficiency, accountability, and family support in the state workforce.
The infant-at-work policy permits parents to bring babies ages four weeks to six months into the workplace with supervisor approval. Originally tested in the Governor’s Office and the Department of Human Services, the program will now extend across executive branch agencies. The governor’s office said the policy is designed to provide families with “greater flexibility” during the crucial early months of a child’s life.
At the same time, the administration is ending remote work arrangements put in place during the pandemic. Starting October 1, employees will return to in-person schedules from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sanders said in a memo to state workers that it is “time to leave the inefficient policies implemented five years ago in the past,” signaling a sharp break from work-from-home culture.
These changes come alongside broader efforts under Arkansas Forward to modernize government operations. The initiative has already identified an estimated $300 million in cost savings and delivered pay raises for two-thirds of state employees, bringing salaries more in line with private sector standards. Sanders framed the policy shift as part of her commitment to efficient government and stronger workforce performance.
The dual approach—ending remote work while adding a family-friendly option—highlights Sanders’ focus on both accountability and support for working parents. While critics of remote work rollbacks may argue the move reduces flexibility, the administration insists it will improve collaboration and service delivery to the public.
