State worker solidarity was on display Wednesday as hundreds of public employees rallied outside the California Department of Human Resources building to push back against the governor’s recent return-to-office order.

Demonstrators cited diverse reasons for their opposition.

Tauryn Hodge, a Department of Public Health analyst, said telework provides more flexibility when it comes to caring for his young son.

Esther Tracy, a senior environmental scientist with the Department of Water Resources, said state employees proved telework reduced carbon emissions and the order is inconsistent with California’s climate goals.

Steven Boyd, a trainer for professional development with the Employment Development Department, said Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision represented a backslide for workers.

“This move sets a precedent for taking advantage of workers,” Boyd said.

Boyd said he understands not everyone is supportive of public employees and their resistance to returning to offices. But the state should be a leader in supporting workers, he said, not a follower of the precedent set by companies like Meta and Amazon.

Members represented by various state unions such as SEIU Local 1000, the California Attorneys Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment and the California Association Professional Scientists were present for the event.

Newsom’s order last week unearthed simmering resentment some state workers felt toward the governor that started last year after he called workers back to offices two days a week. In the wake of the new directive to primarily work in person, unions have filed challenges with the Public Employment Relations Board and workers at the Education Department have walked out on the job.

Newsom’s rationale

The governor’s executive order outlined several justifications for the change: in-person work is more collaborative and offers more mentorship opportunities than remote work; a number of private and public employers in California had recently returned to offices on a more full-time basis; and increasing face-to-face work expectations improves public trust with government.

That explanation has fallen flat with some state employees, leading to the unions’ unfair practice charges against Newsom.

“Employees’ and their chosen representatives’ concerns are being addressed through established channels for resolving labor relations matters, including resolution of disputes through the Public Employment Relations Board and the agreed upon processes for grievance and arbitration,” Camille Travis, a spokesperson for CalHR, said in a statement.

Some public servants have taken issue with the governor’s assertion that in-person work will create more collaboration. Particularly state workers, like Boyd, who work on teams that have employees based all over the state.

“We’re acquiescing to cubicle culture in 2025?” Boyd questioned.

State employees who work with sensitive information, like Tracy from the Department of Water Resources, said bringing workers back to work in close proximity was particularly fraught in her field because some of her work must be done confidentially.

The state attorneys’ union contract includes provisions that require members who work with confidential information to have a private office, to protect certain communications. State employees said Wednesday that when working from home, it’s easy to ensure that work is done confidentially. Public employees have concerns that the state will be able to provide sufficient private offices by July.

Space is a concern

Some noted how the state made efforts to reduce the amount of office space for state employees over the last five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s raised questions about how the government plans to accommodate employees coming back to state buildings four days a week.

The administration has previously said that agencies have until April 1 to notify the Department of General Services of their plans to bring workers back four days a week, after which departments will identify spacing challenges.

Others expressed additional concerns .

Mandaris Moore, an IT worker with the Franchise Tax Board, said the office environment presents more distractions than working from home, where he says he’s more productive.

Moore echoed a common fear that forcing workers into offices four days a week will push his coworkers to leave their jobs in search of roles with better telework options.

The return-to-office order is effectively a pay cut for Mireya Huerta, an analyst with the Department of Public Health. She said the mandate will significantly increase the cost of commuting to and parking in downtown Sacramento.

“Two days in office is doable,” Huerta said. “Four days? Come on?”