(The Center Square) – The Arizona Senate has passed Senate Bill 1237, which mandates state government employees return to the office.
The state Senate last week voted 17 to 12. One senator did not vote. This bill now heads to the Arizona House of Representatives.
SB 1237 says a full-time state employee, for the most part, can’t work remotely. However, supervisors can allow employees to work remotely if they are sick.
Furthermore, this bill says a full-time employee should perform their job duties at “the state agency’s office during the employee’s regularly scheduled work hours.”
Employees whose job responsibilities require them to be at a different location are exempt from doing their duties at a state agency office.
SB 1237 says virtual meetings and conference calls are not remote work.
As of Dec. 31, 41% of Arizona state employees worked from home. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was less than 10%.
State Rep. Shawnna Bolick, R-Phoenix, who chairs the Arizona Senate Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency Committee, said Arizona has numerous state buildings “being funded with taxpayer dollars.
“Allowing government employees to telework while cubicles and offices sit empty is a waste of public resources,” Bolick said.
She added that if Arizona won’t close buildings, the state needs government workers to return to the office.
“The pandemic is over, and in-person collaboration between employees is key to a better work product,” the state representative said.
Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said it was important for full-time government employees to be “accountable to their supervisors.”
Petersen said this accountability “can only be achieved through in-person,” which he added increases productivity.
According to the Senate president, in-person work allows agency leaders to manage state resources “to serve American taxpayers to the fullest extent of their abilities.”
“Arizona taxpayers deserve no less of a commitment from all full-time state employees,” Petersen said. “I’m excited about this new policy, and I hope that it will be signed into law by the governor.”
