1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to reconsider the order mandating a four-day in-office workweek for state employees starting July 1, 2025. While collaboration and in-person interaction have benefits, remote work options have proven highly successful for many roles during the pandemic. Forcing a broad return to office could negatively impact productivity, work-life balance, and employee retention. Many state workers have embraced telework's flexibility, saving time and costs from daily commutes. A one-size-fits-all approach fails to account for the diversity of roles and individual circumstances. I encourage exploring a more balanced hybrid model allowing greater telework flexibility where suitable for the position. This would help California remain an attractive employer while still facilitating in-person collaboration when truly needed. Maintaining some remote work options promotes retention of talented staff and demonstrates respect for work-life integration in our modern age.