rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/support-telework-policy-reform-yes-on-hb73?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-support-telework-policy-reform-yes-on-hb73' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> AFSCME Council 3 https://actionnetwork.org/groups/afscme-council-3 https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/152/756/normal/AFSCME_3_2021_Legislative_Agenda.png When the pandemic began in March of last year, AFSCME members rose to the challenge despite inadequate technology and infrastructure for remote work. Throughout the pandemic, our members have shown that we can still be productive while teleworking. The flexibility that telework offers is an important employee benefit that helps with retaining and recruiting staff which the state has had documented difficulty with. The State of Maryland has already invested in the equipment. We don’t want to go back to where it was before the pandemic where none of our members had access to teleworking. The reality is that there is a telework divide. Black and Brown workers have less access, so do lower-income workers. This is why it is urgent that we pass Telework Policy Reform this year! Support HB 73 with amendments for meaningful telework policy reform. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-telework-policy-reform-yes-on-hb73