Roughly 108,000 California state workers have begun reporting to offices four days a week under a return-to-office mandate that took effect on July 1, 2026, marking the largest shift in the state’s telework policy since the pandemic expanded remote work options.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued the executive order in March 2025, doubling the previous requirement of two days per week in the office that had been in place since 2024. The mandate represents a significant change for state employees who have spent more than six years working under flexible telework arrangements.
The transition sparked immediate pushback from state workers and their unions. Thousands gathered at the California State Capitol on July 1 to protest the order, citing concerns about childcare, parking shortages, and traffic congestion in downtown Sacramento. Some workers also raised questions about whether their departments have adequate office space to accommodate the increased in-person workforce after the state increased hiring during the pandemic.
SEIU Local 1000, the largest state workers union representing 96,000 employees, filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) in May 2026, arguing that the administration failed to bargain in good faith over telework conditions. “Telework is absolutely a negotiable working condition,” said SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls. “The state can’t simply make a unilateral decision that affects hundreds of thousands of workers without meeting its obligation to bargain.”
In defending the mandate, Newsom has argued that in-person work will increase productivity and support downtown Sacramento businesses that have struggled since the pandemic. The state’s California Human Resources (CalHR) agency acknowledged the union’s complaint but declined to comment on ongoing negotiations, stating it remains committed to bargaining in good faith.
Assembly Bill 1729, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee of Milpitas, would allow state agencies to develop their own telework policies and require the state to evaluate the cost-savings and efficiency of remote work. The bill has passed the Assembly and is being heard in Senate committees with bipartisan support, but would require the governor’s signature to become law. Newsom has shown no indication of supporting the legislation, remaining steadfast in his return-to-office mandate.
Sources
- CapRadio — The order Newsom issued in March requires state employees to work in-person four days a week starting July 1, up from two days; details on worker concerns about childcare, parking, and office space; SEIU Local 1000 president’s statement on bargaining obligations.
- Sacramento Bee — Approximately 108,000 state workers are now required to work from government offices four days a week after six years of flexible telework policies; Newsom’s argument about productivity and downtown support.
- SEIU Local 1000 — Union filed unfair labor practice charge on May 12, 2026, regarding the return-to-office mandate; representation of the union’s position on telework as a negotiable condition.
- CalMatters — Since 2024, Newsom had been calling for state employees to return to the office, initially requiring two days per week and then increasing to four days.
- ABC10 — Details on Assembly Bill 1729 and bipartisan support for legislation allowing agencies to develop their own telework policies.
