California state employees are pressing for a major change in workplace policy as contract negotiations resume with the state, according to ABC10.Â
SEIU Local 1000, which represents nearly 100,000 state workers, has proposed a new standard that would make full-time telework the default for eligible roles. Under the proposal, employees would work remotely unless the state can demonstrate that specific job duties require in-person work.
The negotiations are taking place in Sacramento and come ahead of a July deadline, when a temporary extension on return-to-office rules is set to expire.
The discussions arrive as many state workers face a directive from Gavin Newsom requiring employees in some departments to return to the office four days per week.
Union leaders say the policy has intensified employee concerns after several years in which many state roles were successfully performed remotely.
Proposed Stipends Reflect Commuting and Workplace Concerns
Alongside its telework proposal, the union has introduced several new stipends designed to offset costs and challenges associated with in-person work.
The proposals include:
- $25 daily commuter stipend for workers who must travel from areas with limited public transit
- $500 stipend for employees assigned to high-crime worksites
- $25 daily stipend for workers required to report to offices in order to support local downtown economies
Union officials argue these measures reflect the financial and logistical pressures employees face when returning to physical workplaces after years of remote work.
Telework Debate Tied to Potential Cost Savings
The push for broader remote work is also being framed as a potential cost-saving measure for the state.
According to the union, a 2025 audit found that expanded telework could reduce the state’s need for office space and save taxpayers as much as $225 million annually if employees work remotely three or more days per week.
As hybrid work policies continue to evolve across the public and private sectors, the negotiations highlight how government employers are also grappling with long-term decisions about where and how work should happen.
State Declines to Comment on Negotiations
The union is negotiating with the California Department of Human Resources, known as CalHR, which oversees labor relations for the state.
A spokesperson for the department said the agency does not comment on active negotiations but expects discussions with the union to continue in the coming weeks.
The outcome could influence not only working conditions for tens of thousands of state employees but also larger debates over telework standards in the public sector.
