Governor Newsom's return to office order is harmful to California state employees!

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For decades, California has positioned itself as a global leader in technology, climate stewardship, and quality of life. From pioneering Silicon Valley innovations to bold environmental legislation, California has consistently served as a model for progress. Its people and policies have sought not only to push boundaries, but also to protect the natural beauty and livability of our state for future generations.

California has implemented groundbreaking policies like Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and SB 100, committing to carbon neutrality by 2045 and a 100% clean electricity grid. The state has also prioritized quality of life through efforts like CalAIM, expanding access to mental health care and social support, and by promoting remote work during and after the COVID-19 pandemic as a cost-effective, sustainable, and humane solution.

Governor Gavin Newsom has repeatedly championed these initiatives as examples for the nation. Yet his recent directive, Executive Order N-22-25, issued in March 2025, mandates that all California state employees return to in-office work a minimum of four days per week, effective July 1, 2025.

This policy contradicts the very vision California has promoted!

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Increased Commuting Harms Climate and Infrastructure

The average Californian already endures a daily round-trip commute of nearly 60 minutes and can spend up to $12,600 annually, a time and energy cost that disproportionately affects working families. Reintroducing tens of thousands of additional commuters onto congested freeways will:

• Increase greenhouse gas emissions, undermining goals set in AB 32 and Executive Order B-55-18 (carbon neutrality by 2045).
• Worsen air quality, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities, the very groups California pledged to protect.
• Strain a highway system already in need of urgent repairs and investment, with projects that will take years to complete.

Telework Helped Address Housing, Cost of Living, and Regional Inequities

Following the pandemic, many California state workers relocated from Sacramento and other government hubs to regions with more affordable housing. This not only helped relieve pressure on overheated urban housing markets but also distributed economic opportunity across the state.

Requiring these workers to return to physical offices four days a week will:

• Force many to either move back to unaffordable areas or endure punishing commutes.
• Undermine equity and inclusion by making employment less accessible to caregivers, disabled individuals, and lower-income workers who cannot easily relocate.
• Reduce morale, retention, and productivity, proven consequences of forcing inflexible return-to-office mandates.

Mental Health and Well-being Will Suffer

California has invested billions through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and MHSA reforms to improve quality of life and mental health outcomes. Yet forcing workers back into high-stress, rigid routines runs counter to these efforts. According to a 2023 Gallup study, employees with flexible work arrangements reported significantly better mental health and lower burnout rates.

A Reversal on Innovation

California once led the way in modernizing government and embracing flexible, tech-forward work models. The Office of Digital Innovation and California Department of Technology encouraged digital transformation and remote service delivery.

By requiring rigid in-office attendance, the state is sending a message that it no longer believes in the power of technology to make work more accessible, efficient, and sustainable, a position out of step with its legacy.

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We, the undersigned, urge Governor Newsom and the California Department of Human Resources to reconsider the four-day in-office mandate and instead adopt a hybrid, department-flexible model that supports climate resilience, housing stability, employee well-being, and continued innovation in government service delivery!