Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has mandated that state employees return to the office at least four days a week, effective July 1. This directive mirrors the successful approach implemented by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the federal level, which emphasized a return to in-person work to enhance productivity and efficiency within government operations.
Newsom signed an executive order mandating thousands of California state workers return to the offices four days a week. The governor instructed departments that offer telework as an option to change their policies and require workers to be in the office at least four days a week. However, case-by-case exceptions will be considered. Although the state treasurer and the attorney general are not under the umbrella of Newsom’s order, they are strongly encouraged to adopt an in-person work environment.
A press statement from Newsom’s office said the executive order ensures the state’s workforce is efficient. The new directive will affect roughly 95,000 employees.
Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order requiring all agencies and departments within his Administration to update their hybrid telework policies to a default of at least four days per week by July 1, 2025. The order establishes a four-day-per-week in-office expectation, with further telework flexibilities granted on a case-by-case basis in light of individual circumstances, consistent with the executive order and existing family-friendly employment policies and legal obligations.
To further enhance the state’s workforce needs, the Governor is also directing CalHR to streamline the hiring process for former federal employees seeking employment in key roles, including firefighting, forest management, and weather forecasting.
“In-person work makes us all stronger — period,” Newsom said. “When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases.”
In 2024, Newsom implemented a similar mandate requiring federal employees to return to the office at least twice weekly. This reversed the COVID-era policy of allowing workers to adopt fully remote schedules.
Newsom isn’t the only one who has mandated.
Newly appointed San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has permitted city workers to return to the office, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is also exploring a similar approach.
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