BUZZ
Requiring California State University Sacramento staffers to be in their offices to meet with students would be a “huge blow” – to the employees.
“Sacramento State will require some employees to return to academic offices later this year to bolster staff’s on-campus presence and improve student and faculty services,” The Sacramento Bee reported. “The measure drew criticism from university workers and their labor representatives, who said the change was misguided and had damaged staff morale.”
The school originally wanted workers back in the office full-time beginning in February. After pushback, the university amended the requirements. “The new policy will require Academic Affairs staff to be in offices four days a week beginning March 15 and fully in person by July 1,” the Sacramento Bee reported.
That still is not enough for some workers and the union representing them, which are demanding they be allowed to work remotely, even if their jobs include interacting with students.
“Staff were floored that now we’re being told we’re not providing the services needed for students or faculty,” Manuel Lopez complained. He is the union rep on campus.
The move mirrors Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive that state employees begin returning to work in the office.
“For all of us who support our students and who’ve been successfully supporting them and our programs remotely … it’s a huge blow for us,” Krystle Peay told the newspaper. She takes care of her mother at home, while ostensibly fulfilling all her job duties.
The union says costs will increase as workers return to the office.
The lack of state workers using government offices has created some economic problems, however.
“City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum is calling on the state to speed up its reuse of empty and underused office buildings, which are double-trouble for a city getting no property or sales tax from them,” CBS News reported on Jan. 20.
The news outlet reported “half of state workers” are “still absent” from the office.
