Virginia Democrats urge Youngkin to reverse state’s new telework policy

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Eight Democratic Virginia lawmakers are calling on Gov. Glenn Youngkin to reverse a brand new telework coverage requiring all state workers to work in-person full-time by July 5 until they’re granted an exception.

A number of state authorities workers have been permitted to work remotely since 2020, however Gov. Youngkin introduced he was imposing a brand new coverage that may convey them again to the workplace full-time beginning July 5.

Virginia workers got a Could 20 deadline to get permission to earn a living from home, however they should get a exception for well being or different private causes.

The eight Democratic state lawmakers despatched a letter to Youngkin on Could 18 saying they have been writing on behalf of their constituents who work for the state and have shared their “severe considerations” with the brand new coverage.

“A top-down and universally-applied telework coverage doesn’t deal with the various variations that exist amongst place necessities and company wants,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers — two state senators and 6 delegates — urged Youngkin to permit state company heads to work with their workers on the return to their pre-pandemic work schedules after the Labor Day vacation and create an interagency work group to look at the present coverage and share really useful adjustments.

“Now we have established the brand new teleworking coverage with flexibility to permit for an worker and their supervisor to debate telework choices and what’s acceptable for his or her position and the group,” Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter wrote in an electronic mail. “The legislators’ considerations have been addressed within the coverage and its implementation.”

Close by areas have already returned to in-person work. State staff in Washington, D.C., and Maryland returned to in-person work final summer time.

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