State employees in the Midwest region are starting to slowly return to the office in recent weeks after more than a year of working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the Department of Administrative Services is especially encouraging agencies to therefore follow the department’s time. This, moreover, would involve a phase-in return to the office from July to September.
State Employees: Timelines to Return to Work Vary
The agency timelines, moreover, can, in fact, vary. That is as they choose when they want employees to return to the office. For instance, the governor’s office brought back many of its employees this past Tuesday. Whereas, the Ohio Department of Transportation does plan to bring its remote employees back in the office this coming August.
Going Back to Work Utilizing Hybrid Models
“There is a combination of a return to the office, hybrid schedules, and telework. In fact, agencies are implementing that, ” said Melissa Vince. She is a spokeswoman for administrative services. Moreover, telework seems to be possible beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reducing Office Space
Moreover, the attorney general’s office is going to reduce their downtown Columbus space by about 50%, a spokesman is saying. In fact, there is a plan is to shrink its office spaces across the state of Ohio. In fact, some staffers are being permanently assigned to telework.
State Employees: Working From Home Since the Pandemic
Since March 2020, about 18,000 state employees have been working from home. This is has occurred since Governor Mike Devine sent state employees to the home who could work remotely there. Moreover, no estimate was available this past Thursday as to how many of those employees will return to the office.
Some Employee Want to Continue to Telework
80 percent of the members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association surveyed said they prefer to telework. This would be over the possibility of returning in-office. The data is according to Chris Mabe, the president of the association and it represents the bulk of state employees.
