We recently reported that the government of Tokyo will be moving to a four-day work week, in hopes to allow young professionals more opportunity to start a family. It seems that the United States government is taking a distinctly different approach, with President Donald Trump’s Return to In-Person Work presidential memorandum requiring all federal agencies to end remote work.
“Heads of all departments and agencies in the executive branch of Government shall, as soon as practicable, take all necessary steps to terminate remote work arrangements and require employees to return to work in-person at their respective duty stations on a full-time basis, provided that the department and agency heads shall make exemptions they deem necessary,” reads the memorandum. “This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law.”
Federal agencies were sent a memo last week by Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management Charles Ezell which notified them of the policy change and asked for return-to-office plans. In explaining the reasoning for the memorandum, Ezell cites a recent report by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
“Virtually unrestricted telework has led to poorer government services and made it more difficult to supervise and train government workers,” says Ezell.
See also: Cynthia Wisehart on Returning to the Office
