California union pushes work-from-home bill as Newsom calls state employees back to the office

The public employee union PECG is backing legislation that calls for the state to provide telework options as the governor requires most workers to return to the office at least four days a week.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The California union PECG is supporting a legislative proposal that would require state agencies to offer telework options 'to the fullest extent possible' and mandate they disclose how much money they save by allowing remote work. This comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for most state employees to return to the office at least four days a week starting in July, a move that has angered many workers.

Why it matters

The debate over remote work for state employees highlights the ongoing tensions between government leaders and public sector unions over workplace policies. While Newsom argues in-person work is necessary, unions like PECG contend telework provides cost savings and environmental benefits that should be preserved.

The details

The measure, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, would require state agencies to offer work-from-home options and provide written justifications when they require in-person work. It would also mandate the state establish a dashboard to document annual savings from remote work. This comes after the state ended a previous practice of tracking and publishing those cost savings data.

  • In 2024, half of state workers were eligible for remote work, and 74% of those preferred telework.
  • In 2024, a state auditor's report found allowing state workers to work from home at least three days a week could save the state $225 million a year.
  • In 2025, Newsom signed a mandate requiring most state workers to be in the office at least four days a week, though the implementation was delayed until July 2026.

The players

PECG

The Professional Engineers in California Government, one of California's larger public employee unions representing over 15,000 state engineers.

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who has called for most state employees to return to the office at least four days a week starting in July 2026.

Alex Lee

A Democratic Assemblymember from Milpitas who authored the telework bill backed by PECG.

Ted Toppin

The executive director of the PECG union.

Department of General Services

The state agency that managed contracts and real estate for the California government, and previously published data on cost savings from remote work until ending the practice in 2024.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The intent is absolutely to establish a state policy that flexible telework can and should be provided to state employees, because it serves state government, it serves taxpayers, and it certainly serves state employees.”

— Ted Toppin, Executive Director, PECG (CalMatters)

“Saving money, protecting the environment, cutting traffic, recruiting and training staff. Those are shared goals of all Californians.”

— Ted Toppin, Executive Director, PECG (CalMatters)

“These cost savings and environmental benefits directly benefit the public.”

— Alex Lee, Assemblymember (CalMatters)

What’s next

The California legislature will consider the telework bill proposed by Assemblymember Alex Lee and backed by the PECG union as the July 2026 deadline approaches for most state workers to return to the office at least four days a week under Gov. Newsom's mandate.

The takeaway

The debate over remote work for California state employees reflects the ongoing tensions between government leaders seeking a return to in-person operations and public sector unions advocating for the cost savings, environmental benefits, and worker preferences associated with telework options.