Editorial By Caitlin Sievers | AZ Mirror
Following the lead of the Trump administration, Republicans in the Arizona legislature moved forward with proposals that would force government workers back to the office and ban diversity, equity and inclusion…
(Cont.) Senate President Warren Petersen’s Senate Bill 1237 would bar the state’s government employees from working remotely, regardless of their job title or duties.
The Trump administration is pushing for federal employees who work remotely to return to the office or quit, claiming without evidence earlier this month that people who work from home only actually work 10-20% of the time, and that instead they’re out playing golf. (Trump played golf on nine of the first 30 days of his term, at an estimated cost of more than $10 million.)
Petersen’s rationale for the return to the office is similar to Trump’s.
“As we have seen play out from the Trump administration, it is important for all full-time government employees to be accountable to their supervisors,” Petersen said in a statement. “This accountability, which can only be achieved through in-person work, increases productivity.”
The Senate passed Petersen’s proposal Feb. 27 by a vote of 17-12, along party lines.
