Virginia Governor - everybody* back in the office July 5th

[underpants]

*teleworking is still available but limited.

Youngkin wants state workers to return to offices under policy effective July 5

https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/youngkin-wants-state-workers-to-return-to-offices-under-policy-effective-july-5/article_ca3a36e0-dd4a-578b-8eb1-d9e60d3dcb40.html

Gov. Glenn Youngkin wants state employees back in their offices under a new telework policy that will take effect July 5 to guide executive branch agencies out of workplace restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new policy, announced on Thursday will let state agencies determine which jobs will be eligible for remote work and how often employees will be allowed to perform their duties outside of their government offices.

Under the new policy, 55,000 employees in 65 executive branch agencies will be able to request to work some days remotely under agreements negotiated with their supervisors and adopted by June 30. Employees will be able to apply for telework agreements beginning Friday.

"We know that creative, innovative, and effective solutions for all Virginians occur with regular, in-person interaction by our incredible workforce here in the commonwealth," the governor stated. "Embarking on a new path that values innovation and teamwork, we are updating Virginia's telework policy for the first time in more than a decade."

[smb]

1. Fossil Fuel Is All That's Left Of Our Economy! You Prop It Up For Us, Tovarich, Da? nt

[brooklynite]

2. C'mon; almost every Government office in the country has re-opened.

My office has been at 5-days in office for the past three months.

[smirkymonkey]

3. It's bullshit. There is no need for people to be in the office that much, or in many cases, even

at all. My company (Fortune 100) is going on a team by team basis and my team is back 2 days per week, but even that hasn't been working.

A number of people have already been out with Covid or other illnesses (myself included - I was sent home after testing negative for Covid, but with an extremely bad cold/flu) and others don't want to come in because they don't want to get sick and they can do their jobs just as well from home.

Out of our team of 28, 3 were in on Tuesday and 10 were in on Wednesday. They are going to have a hard time convincing people to come back in especially now when we are back on code red and have to sit there with a mask on all day. I didn't even have to be in 5 days per week before Covid. What is with this juvenile "asses in seats" garbage? It's so paternalistic.

[madville]

4. My prior federal job required everyone back

In the office in September 2020. My current city job required everyone back in the office around October 2021, and got rid of any mask requirements early this year.

[smb]

5. Good Luck; You'll Need It

My current city job required everyone back in the office around October 2021, and got rid of any mask requirements early this year.

OK, that's the "eff around" part. Has the "find out" part kicked in yet?

[madville]

6. No, COVID hasn't had much impact here the last 6 months

We have about 1000 employees across the city, hasn’t been prevalent at all. One employee tested positive a few weeks ago and they notified the other 20 people in that office to monitor for symptoms but no one else ever showed any, we’re only required to stay home or get tested if we have symptoms.

We also had our spring pollen season, just about everyone here gets allergy symptoms, runny/stuffy nose, itchy red eyes and throat, etc. That could have masked many mild cases and the asymptomatic people wouldn’t know they had it otherwise anyway.

[avebury]

7. If handled well, teleworking can be a huge benefit to employer and employee.

1. You don't need as large a physical footprint for agencies. Hoteling cubicles can give employees space to work if they need to go into the office.
2. It pushes agencies to move to paperless which results in less money being spent on supplies and being better for the environment.
3. Employees can have more flexible work hours which helps out if you have children, or appointments to go to. I don't have to take leave time to do to the doctor or dentist, I just make up the time.
4. You can't beat the commute time if you only have to walk to your home office. That is less wear and tear on your car and saves you a lot of time.
5. Meetings can be conducted remotely with Teams, Zoom, whatever which saves everyone time because all you have to do is log into what ever app that is being used for a meeting. When I used to have to book in person meetings it was a huge pain in the ass to find an available conference room.
6. Greater flexibility in dealing with emergencies or the weather. If there is an emergency you don't have to drive into the office. I just log on and take care of business.

I have teleworked for over two years now (migrated from Covid Telework to permanent Telework). I don't go into the office unless I have a specific task that needs to be done there.

A lot of times state agencies are limited as to what they can do for their employees. Teleworking is one option that they can allow that makes life for their employees better.

But you do need people who are self-motivated enough to make sure that they take care of business.

[underpants]

8. The plastic initiative has been scrapped

The state had an Executive Order to get rid of all one use plastic. It was reversed by Youngkin. I thought paper was next but I guess not.

[Mad_Machine76]

9. We were sent back to the office last July (Indiana)

However, in March of this year, they started letting us doing 2 days of telework, which is nice.