New Mayor of Philadelphia mandates return to office for remote workers

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has made a significant number of changes since she started her term in January. Her most recent decision, however, is sure to ruffle the feathers of the city’s workers, especially those who have enjoyed the benefits of working remotely.

During a press conference on Monday, Philadelphia’s mayor announced that all city employees working remotely must return to in-office work full-time by Monday July 15, according to multiple reports. Parker emphasized that doing so is not just a change in routine, but an integral part of her administration’s plans to implement changes that will significantly improve the city and increase government efficiency.

“In alignment with my Administration’s goals of creating a more visible and accessible government, I have notified all City workers that they will be transitioning to full-time, in-office work effective July 15, 2024,” Parker said in a statement. “All City employees are to default to full-time in-office or on-site work.”

Many of Philadelphia’s government employees had been on a virtual work policy established on June 21, 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parker’s directive will “sunset” that policy.

Despite the mayor’s call for city workers to return to in-office work, it’s worth noting that most of the city’s employees had already done so several months ago. Currently, Philadelphia has approximately 25,000 government employees, according to the city’s database. As of 2023, approximately 80% of them had returned to work in-person full-time, the Mayor’s office announced in a press release. The other 20% had worked “approximately 31 of 75 hours per pay period on-site.”

“Employee presence at the workplace allows for more personal and productive interactions, facilitates communication, and promotes social connections – along with collaboration, innovation, and inclusion,” Parker’s statement read. “It delivers on my promise of an accessible City workforce that is best situated to serve the people of Philadelphia. A more consistent in-office presence will result in work environments where equal employment opportunity and diversity, equity, and inclusion are truly realized.”