A billboard on Sacramento’s Cap City Freeway is delivering a blunt message to Gov. Gavin Newsom: forcing thousands of state workers back to the office four days a week starting July 1 might just clog the capital in more ways than one.
The battle brewing at the state Capitol isn’t really about whether people can be productive at home—state workers have spent over six years proving they can. It’s about control, cost of living, and whether a statewide mandate makes sense when departments have wildly different needs. SEIU Local 1000 President Anica Walls isn’t mincing words. She’s warning of a mass exodus of experienced workers, particularly those teetering on retirement who will finally have a reason to quit. After four to five years of efficient hybrid work, being forced into a chair four days a week might be the final push out the door.
Meanwhile, the business community sees opportunity. Robert Heidt, president of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, argues that having state workers downtown daily—spending money on parking, lunch, coffee—would be a boon for local restaurants and shops. He’s not wrong. An empty downtown is a dying downtown. But that’s a separate question from whether a blanket mandate respects individual circumstances or department-specific needs.
Democratic Assemblyman Alex Lee wrote AB 1729 to require state agencies to either offer telework options or put in writing—specifically, with evidence—why certain jobs demand in-person presence. Lee and SEIU estimate remote work saves the state up to $225 million annually. The bill would also establish a transparency dashboard showing those savings. It’s a reasonable ask: if agencies need people back, they should say why. If they don’t, workers shouldn’t be forced to uproot.
The real tension here is ideological. Newsom talks about relationship-building, spontaneous hallway conversations, and the value of seeing colleagues in person. Those aren’t trivial things. But they’re also not universally required. Some roles genuinely need in-office presence; others don’t. The question Sacramento faces right now is whether a one-size-fits-all mandate is worth the cost—in morale, retention, and the exodus that might follow July 1 if this stands.
The committee hearings packed this week show state workers care deeply about this. They’re not asking for unlimited remote work; they’re asking for fairness and flexibility. Newsom could help himself politically and operationally by working with Lee and SEIU on a smarter, department-by-department approach. But if the mandate stays rigid, Sacramento’s traffic problem might not be the only thing getting worse.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
