Minnesota Government Employees Ordered to Return To The Office
Minnesota state employees will now be required to work in the office at least 50% of the time, beginning June 1, 2025.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued the partial RTO order this week. Walz said, “This approach balances the flexibility of telework with the workplace advantages of being in office. Having more state employees in the office means that collaboration can happen more quickly and state agencies can build strong organizational cultures more easily.”
Gov. Walz also stated, “This is a talented workforce. I’m proud of them. I want to keep them. I also know there’s a lot of energy and ability that we can do when we’re in the office a portion of the time. So I think it’s the trend that’s been out there. The time seems right now. This is a hybrid model. We’re asking 50 percent of the time. As I said, over 60 percent have been full time, and another chunk of them have been hybrid, and those will be individually decided on each case, because, again, this isn’t just blanket coverage for everybody.”
Currently, about 60% of Minnesota government employees work on site. The new RTO policy does provide an exemption for workers who live more than 75 miles away from their office.
The state updated its telework policy, and added a telework FAQ document to reflect the remote work policy change.
Why The Change?
In the FAQs, the reason given for the change was that “Working in person with colleagues and managers allows for increased collaboration and improved communication and connection, where problems can be solved organically, and team members experience a greater sense of belonging. This policy change is also aligned with current workforce trends and supports good use of state resources, including office space.”
Another reason for the RTO mandate is concern over the economic condition of downtown St. Paul. Reportedly, the mayor has been concerned about the low amount of foot traffic for the area’s restaurants and businesses. In a statement, Walz said this change “supports the economic vitality of office districts like downtown St. Paul, bringing foot traffic back to businesses and public spaces.”
This RTO order follows California and Texas ordering state employees back to the office. The federal government has also pursued return to office orders for its employees since President Trump took office.
