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Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring state employees to return to office at least four days per week beginning July 1, 2025, marking a significant shift from pandemic-era remote work policies.
The directive affects thousands of state workers who have been working under hybrid arrangements. The order also includes a separate initiative to streamline hiring former federal employees, particularly in firefighting and environmental management roles.
“State employees are the backbone of our government, and we are blessed in California with public servants who devote their time and talents to the smooth operation of critical services and public infrastructure. In-person work makes us all stronger — period. When we work together, collaboration improves, innovation thrives, and accountability increases. That means better service, better solutions, and better results for Californians, while still allowing flexibility.” - Newsom said in a statement.
According to the information released with the executive order, the new policy aims to enhance collaboration, strengthen accountability, and improve service delivery to California residents while maintaining some workplace flexibility.
More than half of California’s 224,000 full-time state workers, including peace officers, health care workers, and safety inspectors, already report working in person every day. The executive order primarily affects office workers who have maintained hybrid schedules.
The order requires all agencies and departments within the Newsom administration to update their hybrid telework policies by next summer. While establishing four days per week as the standard, the directive allows for case-by-case exceptions based on individual circumstances.
California Human Resources (CalHR) will issue statewide guidance on appropriate exceptions, specifically addressing “employees whose positions require telework and employees who do not live near their duty stations and were hired with a mutually agreed-upon telework arrangement,” according to the executive order.
State agencies must develop implementation plans to accommodate increased in-person work, addressing workplace facilities and employee transportation options. The Government Operations Agency, the Department of General Services, and CalHR will support agencies in implementing the changes. The executive order also directs CalHR to notify affected bargaining units about policy changes promptly.
In conjunction with the return-to-office mandate, Newsom directed CalHR to create expedited hiring pathways for former federal employees seeking state employment. This initiative targets professionals with experience in firefighting, forest management, weather forecasting, climate resilience, and water management.
The recruitment effort comes as California faces ongoing challenges from wildfires, drought, and other climate-related issues. The executive order document notes that “California is strategically recruiting experienced professionals to fill key job openings in firefighting, extreme weather forecasting, climate resilience, and water management roles — ensuring the state remains prepared for natural disasters and environmental challenges.”
The administration emphasized the state’s status as a premier employer, noting its position as part of the world’s fifth-largest economy with ties to Silicon Valley, the entertainment industry, and agricultural production.
The executive order outlines several expected benefits from the return-to-office policy, including improved collaboration and communication, enhanced mentorship opportunities, strengthened oversight, and more responsive public services.
The executive order maintains that flexibility will remain an important part of state employment, with provisions for exceptions consistent with existing family-friendly employment policies and legal obligations.
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