Telework Update: CCHCS

On June 17, 2026, SEIU Local 1000 held a meet and confer with California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) regarding the Return-to-Office (RTO) mandate effective July 1, 2026. The team was able to confirm:

• CCHCS intends to implement on July 1
• CCHCS has not identified specific department level goals for RTO implementation
• CCHCS did not identify specific areas of concern or problems with its telework policy, problems with its operations due to telework, or plans to change telework policy prior to or outside of the Executive Order (EO)
• CCHCS is not tracking data or measuring the impact of the 4 day in office RTO
• Employees may apply for the exemptions stated in the EO: medical/RA and the distance exemption of 50 miles or more from their designated worksite if they are in the same position and residence and had an agreement to telework as of March 2025
• Field days count as in office days
• CCHCS has not identified additional costs
• Management has discretion to consider and approve requests for flexing remote days or additional remote day needs on a case-by-case basis

CCHCS further confirmed there is no consideration for relocation cost, financial assistance or hardship transfers unless they would already meet the criteria outside of RTO. 

The team made several proposals to CCHCS regarding full-time telework, parking, safe access, and commute assistance. The department confirmed they would consider and follow up at a later date during a follow-up meeting.

There are still items that need further clarification such as:

• If employees on 100% remote schedules will be grandfathered in as exempt
• The expectation for employees on AWWS and part-time schedules
• The expectation for make-up days for in office days missed due to approved leave
• The breakdown of workspaces and allocation of workspaces for CCHCS employees at HQ and other admin offices
• If there are exemptions for whole work units based on the work they do
• What the expectations are for seating in the Nurse consultant units based at HQ and if they can report to worksites closer to their assigned institutions
• Plans for July 1 regarding workspaces, worksite locations, if it will be delayed, who will be required to comply with 4 days in office, who will be allowed to continue their current schedule until a later date, if everything is not finalized prior to July 1
• What the expectations are for equipment in remote offices and if it’s expected to be returned

However, CCHCS confirmed they intend to move forward with 4 days in office, per the Governor’s mandate.