California state workers will be required to return to in-person work four days a week starting July 1, according to a memo from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. “The email came out of left field. We were kind of anticipating it to come, but we just weren’t sure when. It was very straightforward, basically saying ‘July 1, you’re coming back to the office four days a week.’ With no type of explanation behind it. Just, ‘you’re just doing that,’” said Darrell Fusselman, a state worker. The memo states that hybrid schedules involving telework cannot exceed one day per week. “Change is hard. I’m empathetic. Everyone has unique criteria or circumstance. We try to accommodate for that,” Newsom said. CalHR renegotiated agreements with unions to delay the return until summer, but SEIU Local 1000 continues to push for expanded telework options. “We want the state to bargain in good faith and unfortunately, they have not done so and so the next step for us was to file an unfair labor practice charge,” said Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000. Fusselman, who is also a manager, expressed concern about the impact on his staff’s work-life balance. “Everyone has different things going on outside of work. Childcare, school, taking care of elderly parents or things like that, where they use that telework as a resource to kind of help with that,” Fusselman said. Former state worker Anita Razo shared similar concerns. “They’re going to have to go back to driving to work and finding daycare for their children, at the school and things like that. They hadn’t had to deal with that now for a few years. So that’s a hardship,” Razo said. Some believe the return to offices could benefit local businesses. “We know that they need to get back into their offices because it’s hurting the economy for Sacramento, because, you know, if the offices are empty, then, you know, there’s no one to go to the restaurants or anything and it’s all the way around,” said Leticia Galvan, who works in Sacramento. The union, however, emphasized that economic concerns are not their priority. “Our job as state employees is to continue to provide critical services to Californians. It has nothing to do with making sure that downtown hubs are functioning in a, you know, in, in a good way or that they’re making money,” Walls said. According to Newsom’s office, 98% of state departments have enough space to accommodate workers returning to the office. For the remaining 2%, Newsom said they will continue working with the Department of General Services to strategically extend space availability.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

California state workers will be required to return to in-person work four days a week starting July 1, according to a memo from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

“The email came out of left field. We were kind of anticipating it to come, but we just weren’t sure when. It was very straightforward, basically saying ‘July 1, you’re coming back to the office four days a week.’ With no type of explanation behind it. Just, ‘you’re just doing that,’” said Darrell Fusselman, a state worker.

The memo states that hybrid schedules involving telework cannot exceed one day per week.

“Change is hard. I’m empathetic. Everyone has unique criteria or circumstance. We try to accommodate for that,” Newsom said.

CalHR renegotiated agreements with unions to delay the return until summer, but SEIU Local 1000 continues to push for expanded telework options.

“We want the state to bargain in good faith and unfortunately, they have not done so and so the next step for us was to file an unfair labor practice charge,” said Anica Walls, president of SEIU Local 1000.

Fusselman, who is also a manager, expressed concern about the impact on his staff’s work-life balance.

“Everyone has different things going on outside of work. Childcare, school, taking care of elderly parents or things like that, where they use that telework as a resource to kind of help with that,” Fusselman said.

Former state worker Anita Razo shared similar concerns.

“They’re going to have to go back to driving to work and finding daycare for their children, at the school and things like that. They hadn’t had to deal with that now for a few years. So that’s a hardship,” Razo said.

Some believe the return to offices could benefit local businesses.

“We know that they need to get back into their offices because it’s hurting the economy for Sacramento, because, you know, if the offices are empty, then, you know, there’s no one to go to the restaurants or anything and it’s all the way around,” said Leticia Galvan, who works in Sacramento.

The union, however, emphasized that economic concerns are not their priority.

“Our job as state employees is to continue to provide critical services to Californians. It has nothing to do with making sure that downtown hubs are functioning in a, you know, in, in a good way or that they’re making money,” Walls said.

According to Newsom’s office, 98% of state departments have enough space to accommodate workers returning to the office. For the remaining 2%, Newsom said they will continue working with the Department of General Services to strategically extend space availability.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel