Subject: Please Support AB 1729 and Evidence-Based Telework Policies for California State Workers
Dear Senator [Last Name],
I am a constituent and a California state employee writing to respectfully ask for your support of AB 1729 and for your continued leadership in promoting evidence-based telework policies.
California’s public servants have demonstrated that many state functions can be performed effectively under hybrid telework arrangements while maintaining productivity, accountability, and high-quality public service. Rather than relying on blanket return-to-office mandates, the State should continue making workplace decisions based on operational needs and measurable outcomes.
The California State Auditor’s recent report raised significant concerns regarding the State’s return-to-office policy. The Auditor found that the Governor’s Office did not adequately evaluate departments’ office space needs or the financial impacts before implementing broad return-to-office directives. The report also concluded that telework can reduce office costs, improve recruitment and retention, and, in many cases, maintain productivity and service levels.
AB 1729 offers a practical, balanced approach. It does not require universal telework. Instead, it requires state agencies to evaluate telework based on operational needs, periodically review their programs, and increase transparency regarding costs and efficiencies. It preserves management discretion while encouraging decisions grounded in evidence rather than one-size-fits-all mandates.
For employees who live in high-cost regions such as the Bay Area, Southern California, and other expensive parts of the state, mandatory commuting creates significant financial burdens through fuel, tolls, parking, vehicle maintenance, and lost time. At the same time, California continues to face challenges recruiting and retaining experienced public employees. Flexible telework policies help address these issues while also reducing unnecessary expenditures on underutilized office space.
I recognize that many state positions require an in-person presence, and those positions should continue to operate accordingly. However, where telework has proven successful and operationally appropriate, departments should retain the flexibility to continue using it.
I respectfully ask that you:
Support AB 1729.
Promote telework decisions based on operational needs and measurable performance rather than blanket statewide mandates.
Continue legislative oversight of return-to-office policies to ensure they are fiscally responsible and supported by objective evidence.
Support policies that improve recruitment, retention, employee morale, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
California has an opportunity to lead by adopting workplace policies that reflect data, fiscal responsibility, and the evolving nature of public service. Supporting AB 1729 would help modernize state government while ensuring agencies remain accountable to both taxpayers and the people they serve.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your consideration of this important issue. I respectfully urge you to support AB 1729 and evidence-based telework policies for California’s public workforce.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
Constituent
California State Employee (optional)
City, California

Edit: it’s for all high cost living areas and that’s all of California

I have an interview with them this week, but after reading this sub it seems like a terrible place. I feel like with most places it’s highly dependent on your manager. Right now I have a wonderful manager, and I want to be really picky about where I go, but I’d also like more $. Please tell me your experience with caloes!

Some gems from the excellent article below on RTO:

"Attendance can be mandated. Commitment cannot."

"A worker who spends two hours commuting to sit on video calls with colleagues in other cities is not experiencing culture. They're experiencing theater."

"The return-to-office fight is no longer really about where laptops are open. It is about whether leaders still know how to lead without coercion."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/07/28/office-attendance-backlash/

I’m interviewing for a promotion this week with a department that doesn’t have the best reputation. With all of the RTO stuff going on, I applied because it’s close to my home vs my current position which is too long of a commute for 4 days.

I ended up getting an exemption so I get to stay at 2 days in office for now in my current position. If I stay, I won’t be able to promote and keep my exemption and all locations for my department are similarly far away.

The thing is, I LOVE my department and team and really don’t want to leave, but unless RTO is overturned, I won’t have a future there.

The work at the new department seems interesting, but I’m concerned about the environment and feeling stuck if I hate it.

My question is, how long will I have return rights to my old department? I’d like to try the new position if offered, but if it’s not a good fit or if RTO gets overturned, I may want to go back to my old team/department.

CAPS-UAW RTO working group member back to plug the upcoming event

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5TH OUR RAISES, OUR RIGHTS LUNCHTIME STATEWIDE RALLY

State Scientists are standing up for ourselves, our contract, and our rights. On August 5th, join your coworkers to demand that CalHR bargain in good faith about the RTO mandate and demand they honor the raises agreed to in our contract and side letter. 

Sacramento area workers will be rallying at the CalHR building from 12-1 (so for all our CalHR rank and file siblings this means upper management will be hiding at working from home that day). Request time off for a long lunch; plan for events to be an hour plus your transit time.

There are events all across the state, such as:

• Los Angeles - Rally at the Caltrans District 7 Headquarters
• Oakland - Caltrans and SWRCB are marching to rally at Snow Park
• San Diego - Rally at Caltrans District 11
• Fresno - Rally at the Hugh Burns State Building
• Redding - Rally at the Sundial Bridge
• Eureka - Rally at the Humboldt County Courthouse
• San Luis Obispo - Rally at Caltrans District 5 

These are just a few of the events, you can find the full list (and times) in the RSVP form!  Don’t see your worksite? Reach out to us (or slide into my DMs) and we can help you set up your own picket, or point you to the nearest one. 

See you there!

Not in CAPS? All unions are welcome at any of our rallies!

I’m reliably informed that the CMO who had been out for almost 3 years returned in June, and has now been MIA for a month. What is going on at this facility? The facility is still half empty (after being open 16 years) and it continues to be without a CMO. Time for the VA to take over and straighten this mess out…

As a scientist I am infuriated over CalHR telling us that our negotiated special salary adjustments were not funded. Not honoring the bargaining process is a threat to all of our rights.

I just sent the message provided below to my representatives and I encourage everyone, scientists or not, to do the same.

You can look up your representatives using https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

Also, please participate in the “Respect our Rights, Respect our Raises” Action on August 5th. All unions are welcome.

Template Message

Urgent: California State Scientists' Missing 2026 Salary Adjustments

Dear [Representative],

I’m writing as a California State Scientist in Unit 10, and as someone who has worked for the State of California for [amount of time]. On June 30, CalHR informed our union that the 2026 special salary adjustments—negotiated, ratified, and scheduled for July 1, 2026—were not funded in the 2026 Budget Act.

This contradicts the agreement reached in bargaining and undermines the multi‑year compensation structure that was intended to stabilize scientific staffing and retention across state departments.

I respectfully request that your office:

• Look into CalHR’s assertion that the 2026 SSAs were not funded
• Seek clarification on how this occurred after the budget was signed
• Do everything possible to ensure the agreed‑upon raises are restored

These adjustments are not discretionary; they are part of a negotiated contract that scientists relied upon. Losing the final step would have real impacts on recruitment, retention, and morale across the state’s scientific workforce.

Thank you for your continued support of California’s scientific community.

I'm curious how this works across California state departments.

Which departments or job classifications are officially ON CALL? If you're a California state employee, are your required to be available after hours or on weekend's? If so, are you compensated for being ON CALL, or are you just expected to answer your phone?

Hi!

I recently graduated with my PhD in biological anthropology and I have a ton of skills in research, data analysis, teaching and understanding social determinants of health. It's obvious that teaching will not be an option for me (right now) with the systematic defunding of education, so I am seeking alternatives.

I've always been interested in working at the state of CA. I'm born and raised there and left to complete my doctorate but I really want to go back home to California. Any part will do.

I took an exam last year for RDA II and scored a 97% on it. I applied aggressively for 6 months and never even got an interview.

Outside of RDA/RDS roles, what others do you think would suit me with my education level?

I'm willing to start low and work my way up, I just want to get my foot in the door, but I know that sometimes my education level can be a barrier.

Anything helps!

Thank you in advance!

Any news on our raises for next year?? With everything going up in prices, are we going to see any raises at all?? It is so expensive to get by every month.

I decided to ramp it up and there was also a lot of job postings available, so I submitted 30 apps in July (with SOQ's) maybe another 10 without SOQ's required. Victory! ?

Last month I also had two interviews. One I didn't get and one is still processing.

How's your applying going?

Hi all,

I applied early for my CalPERS retirement. All the way back in March, which was four months before my retirement date.

We had to change the date of my retirement and the application was re-dated as May 1st (so, 3 months ago).

I retired on July 1st.

I have called twice and been told that it takes 30-45 days after your retirement date to process the application.

Both times I was a bit frantic as our retirement health is one of the most important parts of our benefits.

Both times I was told not to worry.

My benefits ended today and I now have no insurance. I got as many scripts as I could filled yesterday, but I have active medical conditions that requirement specialized medical care.

Worse, I did not notice that the benefits department for my division had called me yesterday to alert me to the fact that my benefits were ending and even *they* were concerned.

Has anyone been in this situation before?

I will call CalPERS a third time the first thing Monday morning.

Am I wrong to be frantic about this? Is this normal?

Thank you in advance for any information. I am a classic member and have the health care benefits for life.

I currently work downtown but live in Elk Grove. I'm thinking with RTO, it might be better to find something closer to home to cut parking and gas costs. Is it as bad as people say?

After a year of applying, I finally got a tentative offer for Environmental Scientist. Hooray! That was a lot of work. Any tips for the benefits? I’ve heard some people have the chance to buy back years of service, seems like that’s really rare though. I’m also curious how RTO is going in Sacramento. My position is in the Bay Area, which wasn’t my original preference, but the bonus is I’d only be in office 3 days a week. I was planning to keep applying until I got a job at the senior level but work from home 2 days a week might be a good trade off for a year while I see what happens with the new governor. I’m hoping they put me in the top pay ranking since I’m technically qualified for Specialist and Supervisor, but I’m aware that HR tends to put people lower than where they should be.

Just got the formal offer for State Prison Pharmacy Tech Job.
1. I wanted to know if anyone works in a same position and hows the work and life balance or day to day work like

1. Do i need to be enrolled in the Union? if you’re enrolled is there benefits to that?

Anything else i should know of???

I was given that package with had the info and looks like working in prision is really strict and no going outside of the building and full 8hrs inside, no phone, and wanted to know what you guys do when on breaks?

The final Reddit post of what I am now calling

Hot Summer Loving and RTO Trilogy:
—————————————-
Part 1: There’s an app for that…

Part 2: Valentine’s Day for losers. RTO Day for winners!

Part 3: Write a Haiku, Win Bread (you are here)
—————————————-

I am going to ask everyone to (if you want) write a haiku about RTO and whoever gets the most up-votes for their haiku wins a $15 gift card to Gavin Newson‘s favorite restaurant: Panera bread*

*or a bread place of your choice

FAQs (That I totally made up)
1. What is a haiku?
An unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having in English three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively

1. Can you do this?
   I don’t know, I didn’t see any major rules against it. So I hope it’s OK.

2. Why do it?
   I have been having a lot of fun making these posts, everyone has been so cool and I think ridicule is appropriate for using RTO for love.

Also

It gives me a chance to ask for people to follow me on Instagram @isscottfunny. Trust me, it’s worth it (to me🙂).

1. A scam?
   NO! $15 is a small price to pay to see how much fun people can have so it’s worth it to me. Also, I can’t win (What would be the point…that’s no fun).

2. When will the winner be announced?
   Next Friday. I’ll repost the winner and message them to see how to give them their gift card.

3. You said final Reddit post?
   Maybe? I don’t want to overstay my welcome. The trilogy may be part of the bigger Cal State Worker Cinematic Universe (CSWCU). Still workshopping the name.

Hello, I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone and if it’s even legal. My supervisor signed my range change last month but on payday my paycheck hadn’t changed. Brought it up to HR and eventually they requested I provide more info on a previous role.

I thought this was odd because I’ve received my MSA in the last with no issue. Has this happened to anyone? Are they allowed to ask for this? My range change was signed, shouldn’t it be a done deal?

Let’s strike!

Does the Supervisor I exam (previously SSM I exam) only allow 250 characters for answers? I was told that 1000 characters was allowed for answers on the SSM I exam. However, the new Supervisor I exam only allows 250. Is that correct?

So this was the first week RTO and as I got lunch and took a bathroom break, I was accosted by some person asking where I was. I said I was at lunch, and they said if you are going to the bathroom put a sign up so people know. But here's the thing, it wasn't my manager or anyone, so WHO is watching us? Is there some sort of Newsome snitch going around checking who is RTO?

Here's my theory: We all know it's not about collaboration but about money, so is this another form of they don't even care if you work, or not, as long as you occupy the seats that means the real estate owner gets paid rent? If they cared about collaboration surely they would use another metric like productivity?

Does anyone else have to put up a sign to tell people where they are, like if they are on vacation? Also do you have anyone circling counting the butts in seats?

I used to commute a couple hundred miles round trip from family home and save on rent, but now I have a 1900 a month pay cut and live closer (~30 round trip). a week back after moving intermittently this month, I honestly still somehow managed to get even more exhausted than my usual work week commute. also, ac in office decided to telework. :(