The city is on trend to end telework and work-from-home arrangements almost five years after the COVID-19 pandemic helped normalize them.
“We are all public servants, and each employee plays a vital role in ensuring our municipal government operates efficiently and prioritizes the needs of our constituents. The best way to serve the public is to work together in the office, enhancing collaboration and making the city of Houston more effective as we tackle significant challenges,” the mayor wrote.
As for technology and remote work:
“The city’s technology strategy provides IT solutions that enable work-from-anywhere, including field locations. Work-from-home was accommodated similar to field locations,” relayed CIO Lisa Kent via the mayor’s communications office. “Our cybersecurity policies and tools already protect city-provided devices and some platforms accessible from BYOD (bring your own device) cell phones regardless of on or off premise. We do not permit BYOD computing devices.”
In addition, the city has a five-year refresh cycle and a one-device-per-person rule, and RTO will not impact these policies, according to the information emailed to Industry Insider — Texas.
Houston has 22,000 workers, according to the mayor’s notice, and the mayor’s goals for in-person work include:
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Innovation
- Accountability
