Hope Springs ahead. MTA/NYS Agencies Telecommute Bills

Thank you all who have been so supportive in our effort to get the MTA and other state agencies a permanent telecommute agreement.

We are at a unique point in our "return" to the office. There is not enough of it "space." Repeated audits return the same result that made the MTA create the Work from the home program back in 2018, and it was hugely popular. There were no instances of abuse, and no work was left undone.

People saved time and money enjoying this at no cost to the taxpayer's benefit. Morale improved. With the onset of Covid, this 2018 model made the MTA positioned to move to a telecommute environment seamlessly thanks to the vast expertise of the MTA IT dept learned over the past two years.

The trains will continue to run people will continue to commute, but why take away this benefit that has caused 100s of top talent to retire or find jobs elsewhere. Not everyone is an extrovert. I have not seen one instance of people passing ideas and collaborating by the watercooler. Please stay in their offices, and cubes doors closed and spend the day on teams' meetings just like they did at home. Some people want to return to the office, which is excellent, but that should be a personal choice. Everyone's personality and lifestyle are different. Let's embrace the two and not vilify those who want to work from home.

Yes, sometimes it is necessary to meet in person on occasion to assist new hires and vendors in acclimating to the climate and building connections, but that is not needed full time. 

So please I ask you again. Please share this with coworkers and friends at other state agencies.

There is a bill in the NY State assemble listed below that I would urge you to reach out to your Assemblymen and senators to endorse.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/a464

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s159

Love 

Varnessa