Petition in Support of a Permanent Telework Policy for State of New Mexico Employees
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
State employees are overworked and underpaid, while still providing essential services to the people of New Mexico. There are record vacancy rates across State agencies, and now the Governor and the State Personnel Office are threatening to take away telework — one of the few perks that make working for the State a viable choice for so many people.
Telework has been proven to attract and support a more diverse workforce and increases accessibility to the workplace for marginalized communities. Both workers and managers report increased productivity when Teleworking and are better able to support the needs of New Mexicans with a more flexible workplace. Recent reports from the Legislative Finance Committee suggest that a permanent telework policy can be used as a recruitment tool to help fill vacancies, and as a cost-saving measure to reduce leased office space.
A permanent Telework Policy is an essential part of a progressive and equitable workplace.
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To:
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
From:
[Your Name]
Against the advice in recent LFC reports — one of which indicated that “SPO should consider implementing a mandatory systemwide telework policy to promote fairness across agencies and market it to potential employees as a benefit” — SPO recently rescinded the State’s Union-bargained Non-Mandatory Telework Policy for Managers and intends to rescind the Policy for the entire Executive Branch Workforce on February 2, 2023.
LFC reports also show that reducing leased space, via telework, can lead to significant cost savings. Our members report that with inflation, increased gas prices, lack of available post-pandemic child- and elder-care, and no salary increases, returning to their offices full time would effectively be a pay cut, leaving them with less time for their families and less money to support their local economies.
Many other major employers in New Mexico have higher pay, better benefits, and offer teleworking options. Neighboring states like Colorado, Arizona, and Utah are still offering remote work. SONM working conditions need to be comparable to competitive employers. We need to keep our current staff and recruit new staff to fill our current vacancies. Canceling telework is only going to make this issue worse and lead to a higher vacancy rate.
Telework has been proven to attract and support a more diverse workforce and increases accessibility to the workplace for marginalized communities. A permanent Telework Policy is an essential part of a progressive and equitable workplace.
Reinstate the Non-Mandatory Telework Policy!