(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin State Assembly on Thursday approved Rep. Amanda Nedweski’s “return to work” plan, Assembly Bill 39, which would require state employees to perform at least 80% of their work month in person. Nedweski, a Pleasant Prairie Republican, framed the vote as a long-overdue correction more than five years after COVID-19 disrupted normal operations.
Nedweski said the policy shift is needed because the Evers–Rodriguez administration “failed to respond to the will of the people” and allowed remote work to harden into a “permanent bureaucratic entitlement.” She argued in-office staffing is essential for agencies to “effectively and efficiently serve the people of Wisconsin,” adding that she is not anti-telework but believes it must be “managed and measured.”
Supporters pointed to a 2023 review by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau that found many agencies didn’t even know how many employees were working from home or when. The same review flagged cybersecurity risks when confidential data is accessed from unsecured locations. Backers also noted that governors in other states—including Democrats Gavin Newsom in California and Tim Walz in Minnesota—have already moved their workforces back toward in-person operations.
Democrats countered that remote work helps families absorb rising childcare costs, a claim Republicans dismissed. Nedweski called it “ridiculous” to ask taxpayers to “absorb the childcare costs of state employees who work from home,” arguing that if Democrats were serious about affordability, they would have supported cutting “burdensome red tape” on childcare providers in the state budget.
With Assembly passage secured, the measure now heads to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, state agencies would be on the clock to restore in-person staffing to at least four days out of five workdays on average each month, with limited room for exceptions that are tracked and enforced rather than assumed.
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8 Responses
Good!
Now get the county employees back to work. Lots of them still working from home.
Something that actually means something from Amanda !!
Evers will probably veto it but that’s ok. At least its out there
Yes, when the taxpayers are paying the state workers wages, EVERYONE should be back to work 100% of the time!
I have no problems with people not showing up for work. I have a problem with paying them.
80% of the time? Sounds like a liberal plan….
In office when required or find another job… 100% of the time!
Who cares?! Get a life
Sounds like a political ploy, at least in part.
In the real world, employees who should be working inside an office should be there. That’s common sense.
But here’s something businesses learned during the pandemic: Money was saved and employee morale was often higher by remote work. As a result, companies reduced expenses for utilities, maintenance, building rent (not inconsequential in a big city) and so on. Many moved into smaller, more affordable office buildings.
I can’t label this “cheap politics” because it could wind up costing taxpayers. Common sense, not politics, should prevail. If doing a job by remote work is detrimental to the agency and the public, end it. If not, then, as the old saying goes, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
Disclaimer: For decades I did a lot of work outside of my office. In the mix, I usually got MORE accomplished that way.