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California's Return-to-Office Mandate Challenged [semi-satire]
Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 31 May 2026 | John Semmens

Posted on 06/02/2026 10:29:10 AM PDT by John Semmens

In an effort to regain control over the people who work for the state government, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has ordered them to report to work at the offices the government has provided for them four days per week. "It has been four years since the pandemic ended," Newsom argued. "The original reason for allowing them to work from home--help prevent the spread of covid--is no longer valid. I've been more than patient. We need these workers to be on the job and under direct supervision to make sure they're really working."

The union of California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE) countered by contending "forcing us back to the office without first doing an environmental impact study would violate the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)." Matthew Gauger, CASE's vice president, pointed out that "the return to the office order the Governor is trying to impose on employees would put an additional 90,000 cars a day into the already heavy traffic. In one month alone, working from home saved 50 million commute miles and avoided over 18,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions."

A long-time employee speaking anonymously pointed out "all the work is being done by AI now anyway. We can access AI from home just as easily as from the office. Forcing each of us to sacrifice an hour a day or more commuting to the office is pure waste. Time is our most limited resource. We should be free to make the best use of it. Letting us choose whether to work from home or come to the office costs the Governor nothing. In fact, the state could save billions by divesting itself of all the unneeded office space it now owns."


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Government; Humor; Politics
KEYWORDS: ai; newsom; satire; union
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1 posted on 06/02/2026 10:29:10 AM PDT by John Semmens
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To: John Semmens

They are probably getting more done than those working on the high speed rail.


2 posted on 06/02/2026 10:32:23 AM PDT by pas
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To: John Semmens
In the private sector it's "my way, or the highway".

3 posted on 06/02/2026 11:04:57 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: pas

Yep. They’re filing court briefs with bogus case citations prepared by artificial intelligence.


4 posted on 06/02/2026 11:08:47 AM PDT by John Semmens
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To: John Semmens

“It has been four years since the pandemic ended,”

It has been four years since the scamdemic ended,...


5 posted on 06/02/2026 11:20:41 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: John Semmens
Work from home?

How many live in a foreign country?

6 posted on 06/02/2026 11:26:29 AM PDT by zeestephen (Trump Landslide? Kamala lost the election by 230,000 votes, in WI, MI, and PA.)
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To: John Semmens

What they are revealing is they do nothing and aren’t needed.


7 posted on 06/02/2026 11:27:39 AM PDT by circlecity
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