Sacramento, California – In a significant concession to organized labor and a reflection of the state’s ongoing budget challenges, California has reached an agreement with SEIU Local 1000 to delay the state’s return-to-office mandate for thousands of public employees until mid-2026.
The California Department of Human Resources (CDHR) confirmed the agreement on Sunday, announcing that remote work policies in place prior to March 2, 2025, will be reinstated and protected through July 1, 2026. SEIU Local 1000, which represents approximately 96,000 state workers, said the deal not only suspends the four-day-a-week in-person requirement ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom earlier this year, but also preserves scheduled raises and introduces new concessions tied to leave and pay structure.
The agreement, reached amid urgent budget negotiations, must still be approved by the California Legislature and the governor’s office. Once ratified, its provisions will remain in effect through June 30, 2027, unless superseded by a future memorandum of understanding…