California Remote Work Legislation Proposed

A major public employee union, Professional Engineers in California Government, is advocating for legislation in California to establish remote work as a permanent option for state workers. This move comes as Governor Gavin Newsom's mandate for most state employees to return to the office four days a week is set to take effect in July. Assemblymember Alex Lee (politician) authored the bill, which would require state agencies to offer work-from-home options 'to the fullest extent possible' and provide justifications for in-person work. The legislation also seeks to re-establish a public dashboard documenting annual savings from remote work, a practice previously maintained by the United States===California Department of General Services. Proponents argue that expanded telework offers cost savings, environmental benefits, and aids in staff recruitment and retention, while Newsom's administration has pushed for a return to office.