The debate around the value of flexible work for government workers has intensified, not only at the federal level but also in state government, with certain legislators adamant about mandating a return to traditional office settings.
In Wisconsin, this has come to a head, with Governor Tony Evers (D) threatening to veto any state budget that contains return-to-office mandates for state employees.
Using Wisconsin as a lens, it is evident that pushing government employees back into the office en masse is not only counterproductive but also short-sighted, ignoring the realities of modern work dynamics and evidence supporting flexible arrangements.
Wisconsin’s experience demonstrates that remote work enhances both productivity and equity.
Evers has highlighted how telework policies have allowed state agencies to attract a geographically diverse workforce, no longer tethered to Madison or Milwaukee. This approach addresses longstanding complaints about geographic inequality in state employment opportunities, enabling qualified individuals from rural areas, especially parents, to contribute to the state government without uprooting their lives.