Oakland mandates all city employees to return to in-person work

Managers are instructed to return by February 18 and all other employees by April 7

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

This week, city administrator Jestin Johnson mandated that all city employees must return to in-office work for a minimum of four days per week. He issued the directive in memo to labor leaders.

Leigh Hanson, chief of staff to interim mayor Kevin Jenkins, confirmed the memo was sent to labor partners on January 23rd and to the mayor and council on January 27th.

Starting February 18, all directors, managers and supervisors are expected to report to the workplace in person. Beginning April 7, 2025, that directive extends to all employees under the city administrator’s authority.

The memo notes that the work-from-home policy, Administrative Instruction 594 (AI594), was originally enacted as a safety measure in response to the COVID pandemic. Administrator Johnson reminded employees that “telecommuting is a privilege, not a right” as was originally stated in AI594.

President Biden declared an end to the pandemic in September 2022. Nevertheless, the city has continued to permit work from home for most employees. While others were not afforded that privilege due to the hands-on nature of their roles, including parks, libraries, public works, parking enforcement, and public safety staff.

Scott Means, the city’s former director of Human Services who resigned in 2024, told Oakland Report that about 60% of staff presently work from home. He also noted the telecommuting policy caused significant service delivery issues due to communication breakdowns, lack of responsiveness to work and resident matters, failures in contract compliance, and, in some cases, use of work hours for personal matters.

Perspectives from Oakland residents also suggest the telecommuting policy has had severe negative effect on the city’s building and permitting services — with ripple effects on construction and downstream economic activity.

Johnson’s memo also recognized that not everyone was in the office every workday even before the pandemic, and that the city will continue to accommodate circumstantial needs on a case-by-case basis.

The city plans to provide additional updates as the changes are implemented.