In advance of the state legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee’s public hearing Thursday, more than 500 state employees have filed testimony opposing a bill that would require them to work in the office.
House Bill 5369, sponsored by Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford), the House minority leader, states that its purpose is to “allow state agencies to establish a work policy that requires employees of such agenc(ies) to work in person.”
Due to an agreement reached in December 2021 between Gov. Ned Lamont and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), eligible state employees may request to work remotely and have the right to appeal any requirement to work in the office more than one day a week.
SEBAC subsequently won arbitration decisions in 2022 against three state agencies — the Attorney General’s office, Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Transportation (DOT) — that had tried to either restrict or deny the amount of time employees sought to work remotely.
In testimony he submitted in advance, Candelora states that the bill is intended “to restore public confidence in our state agencies and instill better accountability within our state workforce.”
He states that many agencies have an aging workforce that could choose to retire, and that work-at-home policies “provide inexperienced new hires with little to no opportunities to gain valuable on-the-job training and experience that results from simply being with peers in an office setting.”
He also suggests that such policies “may potentially force unions in future wage negotiations to request substantial increases for those employees who are unable to participate in telework on grounds of unfairness.”
Candelora also claims that “there are few if any controls in place to monitor the performance of our state employees working from home.”
A large portion of the opposing testimony received in advance of the Labor Committee hearing was submitted anonymously by state employees, including 11 from anonymous supervisors. Other supervisors listed only their initials.
Among the supervisors who signed their testimony is Lori Sirois, an eligibility services supervisor with the DSS. She says if the bill passes it will significantly affect employee retention.
“Telework has been a mainstay for five solid years among the state workforce,” Sirois states. “Agencies have adapted and invested in the infrastructure software and equipment that supports the current hybrid model. Employee productivity is easily and sufficiently monitored under the current telework agreement.”
She states that the current SEBAC agreement does “contain provisions for revoking telework if and when performance issues arise,” but notes that her agency has taken such steps “when needed.”
“If this bill is implemented employee retention would become a significant challenge and as it stands now many agencies are drastically understaffed and have been so for many years,” Sirois states.
Some state employees submitted testimony in advance in support of the bill, but also chose to do so anonymously or to use only their first name.
A state correctional officer who identified himself only as “David” states in his testimony that he believes the work rules should be the same for all state employees.
“If some of us have to be at work 100% of the time, why do others get to pick and choose when they show up?” he asks. “Public service means actually serving the public, not working from home when it’s convenient.”
He adds, “If this bill is going to pass, then it needs to be fair. All state employees should have the same rules, not just some. No more special treatment.”
Candelora’s bill is one of 17 on the agenda for Thursday’s hearing, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. in Room 2B of the Legislative Office Building.
