SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Thousands of state workers had their voice heard this week as they rallied against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s return-to-office order. State employees in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San Diego and Fresno protested the governor’s mandate for workers to return to the office four days a week.

SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents 96,000 state workers, is challenging the governor’s executive order, calling it an "unnecessary move."

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to require state workers to return to the office 4 days a week

  • SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents 96,000 state workers is challenging the governor’s executive order, calling it an ‘unnecessary move'

  • The union filed an Unfair Practice Charge through California’s Public Employment Relations Board 

  • Newsom's return-to-office mandate goes into effect July 1, 2025

“I think we’ve been more productive than we’ve ever been,” said Holly Fretland, during a rally in Sacramento.

Fretland works for the Employment Development Department and currently goes to the office one week out of the month.

“I don’t get as much work done as I do at home because you get interrupted constantly. People are pulling you different places and you can’t concentrate on your own work,” she said.

According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity increased in more than 60 industries as a result of remote work.

Candace Keefauver, who’s worked for the state for 15 years says she’s concerned about the environmental impacts and cost of having more people driving to downtown Sacramento.

“Return to office also increases traffic and pollution on the roads, which is terrible for all Californians. It spends unnecessary tax dollars on these office buildings – maintaining them.”

SEIU Local 1000 is trying to block the governor’s mandate from going into effect. It recently filed an Unfair Practice Charge through California’s Public Employment Relations Board [PERB].

The governor’s office says it will respond to SEIU’S filing through the PERB process.

In his executive order, Newsom stated, "In-person work makes us all stronger — period. When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases.”

Assemblymember Josh hoover, R-Folsom, believes there should be a more balanced approach to Newsom’s mandate in order to remain competitive with the private sector.

“I think we need to be embracing remote work where it makes sense. And the reality is there are a lot of different jobs in the state, both in government and in the private sector that can be done from home. I hate to point this out, but Gov. Newsom himself works from home regularly,” added Hoover.

Many of the businesses downtown say they look forward to an uptick in customers if more people return to the office. Casey Albert and his partner recently opened a coffee shop near several government buildings, where they offer state workers a 10% discount.

“Probably between one-fourth and one-third of our foot traffic is state employees. We really value and appreciate all the state workers that are starting to discover us. We’re kind of a new coffee shop, but we have noticed more and more workers coming in on their 10-minute breaks,” said Albert.

According to the governor’s mandate, state employees are required to return to the office four days a week starting on July 1.