Back to the Office? Sacramento's Non-State Workers Say Deal With It

The return-to-office mandate for California’s state workers has sparked a protest at the Capitol, but not everyone in Sacramento is sympathetic to the cause. On July 1, 2026, KCRA 3 hit the streets to capture the perspective of residents who don’t work for the state—and their verdict was swift: others have been grinding away in person for years, so what’s the complaint?

JP Tantarelli Jr. framed it plainly:“Small businesses in town depend on those workers. Get your behind back to work.”His perspective centers on Sacramento’s downtown economy. For months, state workers have been remote or hybrid. Now, with a mandate requiring in-person presence four days a week, local business owners see a lifeline—though many declined to comment publicly, apparently worried about angering already-frustrated employees.

Ayacaxtli Torrez offered another angle: perspective.“It would be really nice to have that kind of job. And they’re not even required to be in office full time. Folks are struggling to get jobs right now. It’s a terrible job market for everybody.”The subtext is clear—state workers have healthcare, benefits, job security, and now a four-day-a-week office requirement. In a labor market where millions are searching for stable work, the complaints sound hollow to many.

Not all Sacramento residents dismissed the mandate outright. Some raised legitimate concerns: environmental impact from increased commuting, disrupted routines that workers had settled into over years, and real hardships around childcare and family logistics. But even sympathetic residents acknowledged the trade-off felt manageable.“I understand, but I’m not sympathetic to your cause,”Tantarelli Jr. said.“You know, there are circumstances, you know, family, childcare, extenuating circumstances that should be considered. But overall, you know, get here. Four days a week is better than five days a week.”

The tension here is genuinely split Sacramento. Downtown businesses are quietly hopeful. Non-state workers see it as part of the job. State employees are pushing back hard. And somewhere in the middle, the reality is this: whether you sympathize with the protest likely depends on whether you’ve had the luxury of remote work yourself.