Our Union team met and conferred with the California Environmental Protection Agency and BDO’s (CalEPA) on June 10th, 2026, regarding their plans to implement a Return-to-Office (RTO) mandate effective July 1st, 2026, requiring employees to work in-office four days a week.
In our discussions, our team raised concerns from our represented employees that are impacted by this shift back to working in-office after multiple years of successfully working remotely. Specifically, the team raised concerns about:
- The timing and specific plan to implement the four-day in office requirement for all workers across all divisions of the department
- The specific operational needs used to justify the four-day in-office requirement
- The availability and process for exemptions from the four-day in-office requirement for employees
- The availability of in-person workspaces and equipment for in-office work
The team made several proposals to CalEPA regarding full-time telework, parking, and commute assistance. The department confirmed they would consider and follow up at a later date during a follow-up meeting.
However, CalEPA confirmed they intend to move forward with 4 days in office, per the Governor’s mandate.
In response to the RTO mandate and what is happening at the bargaining table, SEIU Local 1000 is planning a Holding the Line Rally at the Capitol to make our voices heard. Please join us on July 1 as we continue fighting for Telework that Works and the contract state workers deserve.