State of New York return to office policyEach team decides.
There is no statewide return-to-office mandate. Telework runs through agency telecommuting programs set under union agreements: the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement continues a Telecommuting Memorandum of Agreement, under which each agency writes its own policy and participation is voluntary.
Days in the office
- Policy
- Flexible, teams decide
- In effect since
- Not known
- Announced
- Not known
- Industry
- Government
- Headquarters
- Albany, NY
- Checked
- Unconfirmed October 2026
What the policy says.
- Under the PEF agreement, agencies decide if and where telecommuting is feasible, each policy has a finite term, and agencies should allow flexibility in which days and how many days employees telecommute.
- Hochul's office said in 2023 that agencies administer their own telework policies, and most offered eligible employees some remote days per week.
- The 'New York state teleworking expansion act' (S5211, 2025-2026 session) would require every agency to set up a telework program. There is no evidence it has passed.
How State of New York's policy changed since 2020.
March 2020
Telecommuting pilot programs under the Governor's Office of Employee Relations began and were extended several times through 2021-2022.
July 2, 2021
PEF's telecommuting memorandum expired; agencies were told to have their own programs in effect by July 31, 2021.
April 27, 2022
Deadline under the 2019-2023 PEF contract for agencies to implement permanent telecommuting policies.
2023
The 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement kept the Telecommuting Memorandum of Agreement.
Sources and how sure we are.
UnconfirmedReporting is thin, old or conflicting. Treat it as a lead, not a fact.No current statewide day count has been reported. CSEA-side arrangements and 2025-2026 developments have not been verified, and the 2020-2022 dates come from brief excerpts of PEF and SUNY notices.
- 1.2023-2026 PS&T (PEF) Contract Agreement NYS Office of Employee Relations, 2023
- 2.New York's death grip on in-office work is starting to loosen City & State New York, February 2023
- 3.Senate Bill S5211 (2025-2026) New York State Senate, 2025
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 Spot something out of date?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
- State of California (state workers)4 days a week, since July 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
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.
Questions
Does State of New York require employees to return to the office?
There is no statewide return-to-office mandate. Telework runs through agency telecommuting programs set under union agreements: the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement continues a Telecommuting Memorandum of Agreement, under which each agency writes its own policy and participation is voluntary.
How many days a week does State of New York require in the office?
There's no single company-wide number of days as of October 2026. There is no statewide return-to-office mandate. Telework runs through agency telecommuting programs set under union agreements: the 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement continues a Telecommuting Memorandum of Agreement, under which each agency writes its own policy and participation is voluntary.
What was the latest change to State of New York's office policy?
2023: The 2023-2026 PEF/State Agreement kept the Telecommuting Memorandum of Agreement.