California Mandates Four-Day In-Office Workweek for State Employees

Governor Gavin Newsom's new policy requires state workers to return to offices starting July 1, sparking pushback from labor unions over costs and work-life balance.

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order mandating a four-day in-office workweek for California state employees, effective July 1, 2025.
• The policy affects around 95,000 state workers who currently work remotely or in hybrid models, with telework exceptions to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Newsom argues that in-person work improves collaboration, innovation, and accountability, leading to better public services for Californians.
• Labor unions, including SEIU Local 1000, criticized the mandate, citing increased commuting costs and the proven effectiveness of remote work during the pandemic.
• The order aligns with similar return-to-office policies at the federal level and in private companies, while also including provisions to streamline hiring of federal workers laid off under recent federal workforce reductions.

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