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| Ohio Governor DeWine mandates end of remote work for state employees. |
In a significant move, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine made a significant move and announced all permanent state employees will resume full-time in-office work by March 17, 2025. This directive affects staff across various state agencies, boards, and commissions, aiming to enhance public service efficiency and optimize the use of state office spaces.
This decision comes nearly five years after the initial COVID-19 emergency declaration on March 9, 2020, allowing certain employees to work remotely overseas suddenly. Many employees transitioned back to full-time office schedules in June 2021 following the lifting of emergency status rapidly downtown. The majority of state employees continued duties on-site throughout the pandemic, especially those in essential roles like healthcare, corrections, and law enforcement.
Governor DeWine's mandate aligns with similar actions by major employers like American Electric Power and JPMorgan Chase, who require employees to return to office premises fairly soon. Additionally, this move mirrors a federal directive from President Donald Trump aimed at reducing the size of the government.
The order does allow for exceptions in cases where agencies have reduced their physical office spaces, resulting in cost savings for taxpayers. Agencies can grant exceptions if some or all of their real estate portfolios have been eliminated.
This development raises crucial queries about future work settings with a balance between remote environments and in-office spaces. The state moves forward; it must consider the benefits of face-to-face collaboration and the flexibility remote work offers.