California union pushes work-from-home bill as Newsom calls state employees back to the office

A California public employee union representing more than 15,000 state engineers is backing legislation to make remote work a permanent option for state workers. A bill by Assemblymember Alex Lee would require state agencies to offer work-from-home options "to the fullest extent possible" and provide written justifications when employees are required to work in person. The bill would also require a dashboard documenting annual savings from remote work; the Department of General Services published such information until ending that practice in 2024. As of 2024, half of state workers were eligible for remote work and 74% of those preferred telework. Gov. Gavin Newsom previously required in-office days and delayed broader implementation until July following bargaining with unions.

""to the fullest extent possible""

""The intent is absolutely to establish a state policy that flexible telework can and should be provided to state employees, because it serves state government, it serves taxpayers, and it certainly serves state employees,""

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