Just in time for the notoriously enjoyable summer, Texas state governor Greg Abbott has announced a return-to-office mandate for all state employees.
The decision comes in lock-step with President Trump, whose return-to-office mandate for federal employees has been quite messy, with employees returning to offices without Wi-Fi or even desks.
No matter, though, as businesses around the country have been instituting return-to-office mandates without cause or data to back it up, so why start now?
Governor Abbott Announces Return-to-Office Mandate
In a statement this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that state employees will be required to work in the office five days per week “as soon as practicable.”
“Texans expect their public servants to be present and engaged in the work on their behalf. With remote federal workers returning to the office where possible, it’s important that state agencies ensure they do the same.” – Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Governor Abbott
While no written mandate has been handed down, government officials have reportedly been talking to agency directors explaining the new policy, with many planning to institute the changes within the month.
Why Are Texas State Employees Being Forced Back to the Office?
The majority of work-from-home statistics point to improved productivity and increased revenue for operations that offer remote and hybrid work options, so why are Texas state employees being made to return to the office?
Well, this decision is likely more about winning political points than improving government efficiency.
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“It’s clearly being driven for political reasons, for political posturing, not for anything else. So I think most folks get that and they understand, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be some serious consequences for this. Turnover is going to be driven up. That means there’s less folks to serve the Texans in their communities.” – Myko Gedutis, vice president of the Texas State Employees Union
The Mess of Return-to-Office Mandates
After years of remote and hybrid work being the standard since the pandemic, forcing employees back into the office on a whim hasn’t gone well for businesses or government agencies in the past.
The federal return-to-office mandates from President Trump, for example, have been all over the place, encouraging employees to commute to empty office buildings with no desks or Wi-Fi. Some locations didn’t even have lights on.
Businesses have had similar problems. Companies like Amazon and Dell, for instance, have endured employee protests and walk-outs as a result of their RTO policies, which have had a notably negative impact on employee wellbeing.
