For Immediate Release
Contact: Olivia Garrett
Call: 804-396-2943
May 20, 2022
Del. Carr Writes to the Governor, Calls for Delay in New Telework Policy for State Employees
Richmond – Delegate Betsy B. Carr (D-69) sent a letter to Governor Youngkin expressing her strong concerns about the Governor’s precipitous return to work policy for state employees.
In the letter, Delegate Carr said, “While I agree that clear guidance will ultimately benefit the state workforce and Virginians, I am concerned that the recent and relatively sudden announcement of changes to the teleworking policies applicable to state employees may have the unintended consequence of lowering morale within the workforce and pushing some of our best and brightest employees out of public service.
In particular, I have spoken with a great number of state employees who are also working parents. The relatively short timeframe for transitioning into a more consistent in-office work environment has left many of these individuals scrambling to find safe and adequate childcare for their children—at a time when childcare is more difficult than ever to secure.”
She also requested consideration of increased flexibility to agency heads to determine which roles can be performed remotely and which employees have a demonstrated track record of remote performance.
In the letter, Delegate Carr explains that many large private employers in Richmond have adopted telework policies that are more flexible and offer more competitive compensation.
Finally, she requests that the governor slow the return date so that employees can make adequate plans and our Commonwealth can retain our best and brightest public servants.
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Paid for and Authorized by Carr for Delegate
