Philadelphia Mayor To End Remote Work for All Full-Time City Employees. The city of Philadelphia is putting an end to its COVID era remote work policy and requiring all full-time city employees to return to the office five days a week this summer. The decision comes after nearly three years of a virtual work policy that was put in place at the height of the pandemic.
Mayor Cherelle Parker announced on Monday that employees will begin working in-office again on July 15 to create a “more visible and accessible government.” According to Parker, “Employee presence at the workplace allows for more personal and productive interactions. It facilitates communication. It promotes social connections as well as collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.”
About 80% of the city’s 26,000 employees have been working fully in person since last year, according to Parker, while the others have spent between 31 and 75 hours per-pay-period on site. However, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2187, the union representing many of the city’s professional and supervisory employees, is not pleased with the decision.
The group’s president, David Wilson, said in a statement Monday that the policy was unilaterally imposed rather than going through collective bargaining. Wilson argued that the policy would make the municipal worker shortage the city has suffered since the pandemic even worse. He also pointed out that the change beginning over the summer will likely complicate schedules for parents, as children are out of school.
“It has become clearer than ever that the mayor doesn’t care for her city workforce,” Wilson said. “Her actions speak louder than words.”
Parker said her administration does not believe the new policy requires collective bargaining. However, the union has threatened to take legal action if the city does not reconsider its decision.
Despite the opposition from the union, business leaders praised the decision, which they believe will benefit workers and the vibrancy of Philadelphia’s downtown area of Center City. They argue that the return to in-person work will boost local businesses and restore the city’s economic vitality.
The mayor also announced some changes to be more worker-friendly, including extending paid parental leave from six weeks to eight weeks and designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday. Officials also said there will be relaxed restrictions on the use of sick leave to care for family members.
While the decision may be seen as a step backward by some, it is also a sign of the city’s recovery from the pandemic. As vaccination rates have increased and COVID cases have decreased, many cities and companies are re-evaluating their remote work policies.
Philadelphia’s decision to end its remote work policy may be a trendsetter for other cities and companies to follow. As the world continues to navigate the post-pandemic era, it will be interesting to see how work policies evolve and adapt to the new normal.
In the meantime, city employees will have to adjust to a new routine starting July 15. While some may welcome the return to in-person work, others may struggle to balance work and family responsibilities. Only time will tell how this decision will impact the city and its employees.
