State Worker Telework Bill Heads to Senate

(TNS) — A bill encouraging telework for California state workers is headed to the state Senate floor.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed AB 1729 Thursday, which would require the Department of General Services to establish a telework dashboard displaying the cost-effectiveness of work-from-home policies. It would also require state agencies to revisit telework policies every 10 years.

While the bill, spearheaded by Assemblymember Alex Lee, D-San Jose; encourages telework, it does not require it.

Lee’s proposal comes as many state workers have returned to the office four-day a week due to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate that went into effect July 1. Newsom has said the return-to-office order aims to boost creativity and foster relationships among the thousands of people who work for the state.

About three weeks ago, Newsom stood by the mandate, saying current telework policies still allow state employees to work from home one day a week, which he equated to a three-day weekend.

“You get three-day weekends, you still do,” Newsom said last month at a news conference. “You know, four years ago that would have been a triumph. Now, it’s some burden.”

Implementing telework policies could save California upwards of $225 million annually, according to a legislative analysis. It would cost the state $10 million annually.

Annual costs include $1.2 million for six positions who would maintain the system and $8.9 million to fund 50 analyst positions to collect and submit data, though the analysis notes the bill does not explicitly mandate departments to report this data to DGS.

The bill now heads to the full Senate.

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