(KRON) — After a number of years of working remotely, Oakland metropolis staff acquired orders this week to start returning to the workplace. Oakland Metropolis Administrator Jestin Johnson despatched a memo to workers outlining a timeframe for workers to work in-person 4 days per week.
Within the memo, Johnson cited Administration Instruction 594 (AI 594), which created a telecommuting work program in September 2021. On the time, Johnson mentioned, AI 594 was “a much-needed tool for our employees to help the City maintain service levels while practicing social distancing and pandemic safety.”
Then-President Joe Biden declared the pandemic over a yr later in September 2022.
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“COVID-19 remains an important health safety issue, but we have collectively moved into newer, safer health conditions,” Johnson mentioned. “As AI 594 states, ‘Telecommuting is a privilege, not a right.’ Therefore, I intend to discontinue all telecommuting agreements and arrangements and require that all City employees report back to the office.”
Oakland metropolis staff will start returning to workplace on Tuesday, Feb. 18, in accordance with the town’s timeline. That is when unrepresented division administrators, assistant/deputy administrators, managers and supervisors are anticipated to start displaying up on the workplace 4 days per week.
That expectation can be prolonged to all metropolis staff starting on Monday, April 7.
Town administrator added that flexibility for infrequent distant work can be prolonged to metropolis workers on a “case-by-case basis.”
“I know this announcement will prompt many important questions, and the City Administrator’s Office will work with all our departments and labor partners to address this transition’s impacts,” Johnson mentioned.
Oakland’s return-to-office order follows intently on the heels of round 100 Metropolis of Oakland workers receiving layoff notices this week.