Governor Gavin Newsom of California appears to be positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential run by appealing to more moderate viewpoints, notably by requiring state employees to return to in-person work four days a week. This policy shift, praised for its courage, could spur backlash from unions. He argues that in-person collaboration fosters stronger service and results for Californians, while more than 60% of state employees already work in roles necessitating in-office presence. Some speculate how these changes may impact California's economy amid existing pressures from different sectors.
"In-person work makes us all stronger - period," Newsom said in a statement. He added, "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."
Surprisingly enough, most state employees already had to report to the office; California has more than 220,000 full-time state employees and about 60 percent work in positions, as janitors and highway patrol officers for example, that already require them to report in-person daily.
Newsom's latest announcement took some courage, because it will face intense backlash from his union base. We give him credit for that.
It's fun to watch as his campaign machinery clanks into action producing output that would have been unthinkable a few short years ago.
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