State of California return to office policy4 days a week.

What the policy says.

• Applies to agencies and departments under the governor's authority that offer telework. Exceptions are case by case, with CalHR guidance on them.
• Bloomberg Law (July 1, 2026): the change doubled the in-office requirement from two days to four and sent at least 90,000 employees back for most of the workweek.
• SEIU Local 1000 filed an unfair practice charge on May 12, 2026. PERB issued a complaint on June 24, 2026 (Case SA-CE-2339-S). The charge did not block implementation; any relief would be retroactive.
• AB 1729, which would have protected state telework and suspended the mandate, passed the Senate 31-6 on Aug 27, 2026. Newsom vetoed it on Sept 18, 2026, and SEIU Local 1000 says it will reintroduce the bill.
• Most departments said they would comply and grant exemptions case by case; SEIU reported meet-and-confer sessions with individual departments (e.g., EDD, CDCR exemption clarifications) in July 2026.

How State of California's policy changed since 2020.

1. April 2024

   Statewide directive required at least two in-office days per week for teleworking state staff (cited in EO N-22-25).

2. March 3, 2025

   Newsom signed EO N-22-25: default of at least four in-office days per week by July 1, 2025.

3. June 2025

   CalHR side letters with unions (including SEIU Local 1000) postponed the four-day requirement to July 1, 2026; PECG dropped its lawsuit.

4. May 12, 2026

   SEIU Local 1000 filed an unfair labor practice charge with PERB.

5. June 24, 2026

   PERB issued a complaint and sent the case to informal mediation.

6. July 1, 2026

   Four-day default took effect; state workers protested at the Capitol.

7. September 18, 2026

   Newsom vetoed AB 1729 (state telework protections).

Sources and how sure we are.

1. 1.Governor Newsom orders return to office Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, March 3, 2025
2. 2.Executive Order N-22-25 State of California, March 3, 2025
3. 3.Employee Benefits & Resources for Return to Office (RTO) Transition CalHR
4. 4.Governor Newsom's Return-to-Office Mandate SEIU Local 1000, September 18, 2026
5. 5.California's 90,000-Worker Office Return Sets Up Union Clash Bloomberg Law, July 1, 2026
6. 6.California's state workers protest as return to office mandate takes effect CapRadio, July 1, 2026

Days a week are for most US corporate employees; some teams, roles and countries differ. Spot something out of date? Email hello@forgot.dev.

Other government employers, side by side.

• State of Ohio (state employees)5 days a week, since March 20255
• US Federal Government (civilian workforce)5 days a week, since January 20255
• City of Chicago4 days a week, since January 20264
• City of New York3 days a week, since June 20233
• City of Los Angeles2 days a week2
• State of Arizona (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
• State of Florida (state employees)Each team decidesTeam decides
• State of New York (state workforce)Each team decidesTeam decides

Working to an office rule? Plan the days that matter.

The hybrid work schedule template builds a week of office days for your team: anchor days everyone shares, the rest spread so the office never overflows. Then Forgot keeps office days, remote days and vacations on one calendar, so nobody commutes in for a planning day half the team is away for.