Texas state employees will soon be required to return to the office full-time under an order from Governor Greg Abbott. The move has sparked concerns over office space shortages, commuting costs, and work-life balance.
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A new order from Governor Greg Abbott requires Texas state employees to return to working in person five days a week. This change has upset many workers and agencies that are embracing online work.
Abbott's order fits in with larger moves to eliminate policies that helped people work from home during the pandemic. Even though he hasn't given a firm date, agencies should follow through.
"This is a big change for state workers," said Myko Gedutis, Vice President of the Texas State Employees Union. Many agencies have shrunk their office space to save money, making it hard to fit all of their workers.
"There’s not enough space in offices for everybody to return," Gedutis said.
Many people will likely be commuting to Houston and other big towns in Texas, making traffic worse, demand for parking, and fuel costs go up. Joshua Hernandez, who works for the state, was angry: "If people have to drive downtown every day, that means thousands of new cars and parking spots are needed."
Remote work has helped workers and agencies by lowering the cost of childcare, gas, and making it easier for people to keep their jobs. "Agencies overwhelmingly found remote work to be positive," said Gedutis.
Some people agree with the choice because they think working together in person makes things more efficient and helps people work together better. Now that Texas is back to how things were in the office before the pandemic, state workers and agencies have to deal with the problems that come with this quick change.
