California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) issued an executive order demanding that state employees return to the office four days a week.
Newsom’s order says that he has “determined that increasing in-office work expectations for state employees, while still providing the flexibility of a hybrid schedule that most state employees did not have prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, is an operational necessity, to maximize collaboration, cohesion, efficiency, and accountability for delivering services to the public and to maintain public confidence in the efficiency and effectiveness of state government.”
A plan to accommodate in-person work is to be developed by April 1 and implemented by July 1.
“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. In-person work makes us all stronger — period,” Newsom said in a statement. “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.”
The order comes as the Trump administration has called for federal workers to return to the office.
Discussing federal workforce reductions under the Trump administration, Newsom’s office said in a news release that California is “strategically recruiting experienced professionals to fill key job openings in firefighting, extreme weather forecasting, climate resilience, and water management roles — ensuring the state remains prepared for natural disasters and environmental challenges — in addition to other critical fields such as medical and mental health care.”
