FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Senate Republicans Pass Legislation to Require
Taxpayer-Funded Government Employees Return to Work
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—A bill requiring taxpayer-funded state government employees return to work is now headed to the House for consideration after passing the Senate today with full Republican support.
Senate President Warren Petersen joined Senate Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency Chair Shawnna Bolick with championing an amendment to SB 1237 to protect the stewardship of taxpayer dollars and provide accountability for government workers by prohibiting full-time state employees from telework. Exceptions are made for sick employees wishing to work from home with supervisor permission, as well as off-site work required within the employees' outlined duties.
"We have a number of state buildings that are being funded with taxpayer dollars. Allowing government employees to telework while cubicles and offices sit empty is a waste of public resources," said Chairwoman Bolick. "If we aren't going to close these buildings, we need government workers to get off their sofas and head back into the office. The pandemic is over, and in-person collaboration between employees is key to a better work product."
"As we have seen play out from the Trump administration, it is important for all full-time government employees to be accountable to their supervisors," said President Warren Petersen. "This accountability, which can only be achieved through in-person work, increases productivity. It also allows agency leaders to best steward the resources of their departments in order to serve American taxpayers to the fullest extent of their abilities. Arizona taxpayers deserve no less of a commitment from all full-time state employees. I'm excited about this new policy, and I hope that it will be signed into law by the governor."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus kquintero@azleg.gov
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This is a terrible bill that will hurt state government production and accountability.I was a 30 year QC Analyst for AHCCCSA and part of a group called Target 3 who pioneered qualified staff working at home without micromanagers and it worked very well. Only personnel with excellent production skills could qualify for the program and anyone who fell below standard while working at home were brought back into the office!
Unhappy workers will destroy any agency while happy workers build it up. Don’t resort to the old micromanaging model of decades ago as it is a huge mistake.
I am a republican but cannot support this illogical bill.
David Romesburg LD 24
This is going to be a disaster for my family and my mental health. This seems like the ultimate form of micromanagement. There are countless measures taken to ensure productivity within each division. If anything everyone’s overworked when working from home. They should definitely sale/repurpose the old buildings! Make some money off of them rent them out! It is literally pointless to go into an office to perform a job I can do from home… I would have to use unnecessary resources to even get to work which would ultimately make me lose out on money….. I really hope someone puts a stop to this!!!!
The state of Arizona is about to lose some the best and brightest especially in technology. AZ pay is around 25-30% lower in tech jobs versus the private sector. Work/life balance and telework privileges have helped bridge that gap, but this will make finding and retaining highly technical staff nearly impossible. My agency would have to lease additional space for us to return as we don’t currently have space for everyone, which will also include purchasing new networking and other equipment. Please discuss this with all the agency directors, I am sure they would be happy to outline the improvements telework has brought to the state of Arizona.