California’s New Work Mandate Faces Confusion

Gavin Newsom’s new directive mandates that most California employees return to the office four days a week. This comes as various state agencies still post job listings that offer hybrid or remote work options.

The mandate officially started on July 1 and signifies a shift away from the flexible work-from-home practices many state workers embraced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It affects around 108,000 employees in the state.

However, as of this past Monday, job postings on the state’s CalCareers website continued to indicate positions that are “telework eligible” or offer hybrid schedules. This raises concerns about how strictly the governor’s return-to-work order is being applied.

Among the job openings are roles in several California departments, including Insurance, Education, Health Services, Consumer Affairs, Human Services, Employment Development, and Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Some listings even suggest full telecommuting eligibility, though it’s said state employees may also have access to hybrid work arrangements based on their specific roles.

Newsom first announced this return-to-office plan in March, advocating that increased in-person collaboration could enhance teamwork, innovation, and overall public service quality.

The policy generally mandates that government agencies require employees to be present in the office a minimum of four days each week starting from July 1. However, exemptions can be granted if the nature of the job, a disability, or existing agreements necessitate alternative work setups.

This new rule hasn’t been without its critics. Various labor unions representing state workers have expressed concerns, stating that the requirement could lead to higher commuting expenses, exacerbate traffic woes, and complicate efforts to attract and retain employees. Some unions are even questioning whether the new mandate conflicts with current agreements that allow for remote work.

It is still unclear how the advertised telework-eligible or hybrid positions will align with the state’s new attendance policy once employees are hired.

The Post reached out to state departments and the governor’s office for clarification regarding how these job postings correspond with the return-to-office order. The governor’s office redirected inquiries to the California Department of Government Operations, which manages this policy.

Notable job postings on CalCareers include:

• Liquor Management Department — ABC Agent (Hybrid); Various counties, $6,339 to $10,609 per month.
• California Department of Insurance — Accident insurance actuary (telework eligible); Locations include Los Angeles, Oakland, or Sacramento, $11,092 to $14,723 per month.
• California Department of Education — Child Nutrition Consultant (Hybrid); Various counties, $5,892 to $8,040 per month.
• National Compensation Insurance Fund — Billing Manager (telework eligible); Various locations, $8,773 to $9,965 per month.
• National Compensation Insurance Fund — Insurance Accounting Specialist (can work from home); $6,623 to $8,290 per month.
• National Compensation Insurance Fund — IT Security Specialist (telework eligible); $8,625 to $11,557 per month.
• Medical Services Department — Medical consultant (telework eligible); Locations include Sacramento and Los Angeles, $13,372 to $19,790 per month.
• Department of Consumer Affairs — Nursing Education Consultant (Hybrid); Over 20 cities in California, $7,207 to $10,825 per month.
• California Department of Social Services — Research Data Engineer (Hybrid); Multiple counties in California, $7,640 – $9,561 per month.
• Employment Development Department — Training Coordinator (Hybrid Target); US, $6,031 to $7,547 per month.