Latest news with #MAPE
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota policy change takes effect as many state employees begin working in-office 50% of the time
A work policy requiring Minnesota state employees to be in the office for 50% of their workdays is now in effect, though some agencies are getting an extension to comply. The change went into effect on June 1, according to Julie Nelson, communications director with the Minnesota Department of Administration. Twelve agencies have been given extensions that range from mid-June to Sept. 2 due to space limitations or equipment needs, Nelson said. The Minnesota Department of Health's facility is undergoing "significant construction" and will adapt to the policy based on the construction schedule. There is an exemption for employees who live 75 miles or more away from their workplace. Gov. Tim Walz made the policy change in March, saying it balances the flexibility of working remotely with the "workplace advantages of being in office." There are 40,000 government employees, and Walz said in March that 60% of them were already back in-person or have continued to be since the pandemic upended workplaces and daily life five years ago. Unions representing tens of thousands of state employees said the change was made without their input. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5 said in March that they learned of the change when the rest of the public did. Megan Dayton, president of MAPE, said at that time the unions were considering a strike if there wasn't a reversal, but it wouldn't begin until June 30 — the date the current contract with the state expires.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota loosens distance exemption on state employee return to office order
Conditions of Gov. Tim Walz's order for state employees to return to the office at least half-time are loosening as the state continues negotiating a new contract with thousands of employees. Under a recent revision to the remote work rule, workers will now be exempt if they live more than 50 miles from their main work site. When Walz first issued the order in late March, the distance was 75 miles. Around 60% of state employees currently work in person and did so throughout the pandemic, according to the governor's office. The state has about 50,000 employees. Employees working remotely will have to report to the office at least 50% of the time starting June 1, if Walz doesn't change his order. The change to the distance part of the rule comes as the state negotiates a new contract with the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, which represents about 18,000 state workers. In a statement, Megan Dayton, the union's president, said they were aware of the threshold change but that they still oppose the return to office order. 'We view this as a cosmetic adjustment to an inherently flawed policy that continues to disrupt state operations, require unnecessary costs and destabilize the workforce without addressing any clear operational need,' she wrote. Dayton didn't offer further comment as contract negotiations with the state are ongoing, though she added MAPE will continue to advocate for a 'telework policy that reflects modern workforce realities and respects the expertise and needs of public employees.' State employee unions said Walz's return-to-office order in late March took them by 'total surprise.' They argued it meant significant disruptions to the lives of families, who may have to find new day care arrangements or ways to balance in-office work with taking kids to and from school. The governor at the time said bringing employees back to the office would help state agencies boost collaboration and 'build strong organizational cultures more easily.' 'We think this is reasonable, it's certainly within the realm of where most other states go,' Walz said, while speaking with reporters outside the Capitol on Wednesday. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said he had been discussing the change with the governor for weeks before the announcement. In August, Carter announced that St. Paul would require city employees to return to work in person three days a week starting on April 1. Many have argued bringing more state workers back to the office will bring a much-needed boost to an ailing downtown St. Paul, which is home to many state government agencies. The district has struggled recently with high office vacancies following the rise of remote work during the pandemic, something business owners say has hurt their bottom lines. Business leaders welcomed Walz's change, with the St. Paul Area Chamber calling it a much needed 'shot in the arm.' Minnesota Senate OKs liquor bill with 'social districts' provision MN House passes bill recognizing Hmong, Lao veterans of 'Secret War' Disability funding, taxes at issue as MN Legislature crafts state budget Ethics panel: MN Senate President must disclose possible future conflicts Concern over vaccine misinformation prompts UMN initiative to preserve data
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota reduces distance on return-to-office requirement for state employees
The State of Minnesota is reducing the distance exemption on its recently announced return-to-work policy, meaning employees who live more than 50 miles away from their place of employment can still work remotely. Last month, Governor Tim Walz ordered state employees to return to the office for at least half of their working hours starting on June 1, a requirement of all staff who live within 75 miles of their primary place of work. But updated guidance issued on Monday shows the distance requirement has been revised to 50 miles, meaning those living more than this distance away can continue to work from home. The 50-mile exception is determined based on the shortest road distance measured door-to-door between the employee's home and their main office. Walz's revision of pandemic-era remote work policy received swift pushback from union leaders, but the governor's office said the change "supports the economic vitality of office districts," such as downtown St. Paul, which has seen growing amounts of vacant office space and is continuously seeing retailers close their office claimed that 60% of state government workers already work in-person, and about 60% also worked in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 announced they have denounced Walz's "unilateral decision to revoke teleworking agreements in place for state workers across Minnesota." The two unions represent nearly 40,000 workers.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walz orders state workers back to office 50% of time; unions slam 'unilateral' decision
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is ordering state employees to return to the office for at least half of their working hours, a major change to the state's pandemic-era remote work policies. The new policy, which has received swift pushback from union leaders, requires state agency workers to work in-person for at least 50% of their scheduled work days beginning on June 1. "This approach balances the flexibility of telework with the workplace advantages of being in the office,' Walz said in a statement. 'Having more state employees in the office means that collaboration can happen more quickly and state agencies can build strong organizational cultures more easily." The policy change provides an exemption for employees who live more than 75 miles away from their primary work location. Walz's office says the change "supports the economic vitality of office districts," such as downtown St. Paul, bringing more foot traffic back to businesses and public spaces. It comes at a time of major struggle for downtown St. Paul, which has huge amounts of vacant office space and is seeing retailers close up shop, including downtown's only grocery store, Lunds & Byerlys. Walz's office claims that 60% of state government workers already work in-person, and about 60% also worked in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, two major unions in the state are denouncing Walz's decision. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 5 announced they have denounced Walz's "unilateral decision to revoke teleworking agreements in place for state workers across Minnesota." The two unions represent nearly 40,000 state workers. MAPE President Megan Dayton said she was "appalled and disgusted" by Walz's attempt to "claw back telework agreements under the guise of 'organic collaboration' and 'stewardship of office space" in a statement. "This unilateral decision by our governor is eerily reminiscent of the disruptions our public servant counterparts are facing at the federal level. There, I said it: This reeks of Musk," she said, referring to the actions of billionaire Tesla owner Elon Musk – of whom Walz has been critical – as he makes wholesale changes to federal government structure. 'Let's call this what it really is: This is a unilateral move by a bad boss without consultation or consideration of the very staff he claims to care deeply about investing in. I never thought the same public worker attacks and micromanaging mannerisms of our federal administration would be mirrored in Minnesota," Dayton added. "For administrators to unleash this kind of chaos on hard working employees when we're about to start negotiating our next contract feels, at best, hypocritical, at mid, a strategic effort to erode the progress we've made to enhance our working conditions and productivity, and at worst, a short-sighted attempt at engineered attrition." Bart Andersen, AFSCME Council 5 executive director, said the union "won't tolerate unilateral changes to our members' work." "The Administration's decision to impose sweeping workplace policy changes without engaging our union and labor partners first is not just unacceptable – it's an act of blatant disrespect," Andersen said. "Our union members must have and deserve a seat at the table every step of the way. We are demanding full transparency and meaningful dialogue immediately. AFSCME Council 5, alongside our fellow labor union partners, will do whatever it takes to defend our members' rights, safeguard their ability to work safely and effectively, and continue delivering high-quality public services for all Minnesotans.'
