More California state workers returned to offices in July, but compliance is uneven

When state workers were called back to the office this summer, most returned — many begrudgingly.

Data from June, the first month back in person, confirmed what some frustrated union leaders and public employees suspected: Some departments weren’t enforcing Gov. Gavin Newsom’s directive as strictly as others. While some government offices had practically 100% compliance with the rule requiring employees to be present for two in-person days per week, other departments were still largely remote in June.

Additional data from July reveals that slightly more telework employees — the roughly 45% of state workers who are eligible to work remotely part time — have returned to the office in greater numbers since June.

Numbers from the Department of General Services showed that 86% of hybrid-eligible employees worked from state offices at least two days a week in July. In June, that number was 82%.

Several relatively large departments substantially increased their in-person presence. The Department of Housing and Community Development reported 65% of its 1,103 telework employees were in the office two days a week in July — compared with 24% in June.

June’s data included weeks in which some employees could still work fully remote. July was the first full month the in-person requirement was in effect since 2020, when the state sent workers home to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

July’s data shows that enforcement of the policy at some relatively large departments is still not as strict as others.

▪ The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has just over 4,000 employees eligible for telework; 57% were in offices two days a week in July. That number is up from 52% in June.

▪ The California Department of Public Health has a similar number of hybrid employees; 50% were in the office two days a week in July. That number was unchanged from June.

Each department reported on its hybrid workforce monthly for June and July. Beginning in August, the Department of General Services will collect data every three months.