Despite this, workers are now being required to return to the office, not because performance declined, but due to a preference for physical presence rather than measurable outcomes. 

Telework also delivers a real value to taxpayers. It reduces the need for state office space, lowers facility and operational costs, decreases parking and infrastructure demand, and allows agencies to use public funds more efficiently. 

Returning to the office is not cost-free. It shifts expenses onto workers through gas, transit, parking, childcare, meals, and unpaid commuting time. These costs can reach thousands of dollars per year and also impacts retention and recruitment in the public workforce. 

If telework is delivering equal or better outcomes at lower cost to the state, policymakers should ask where the fiscal benefit is in reversing it. State workforce policy should be guided by results, accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars—not one-size-fits-all workplace requirements that increase costs without improving performance. 

The question is simple: if the work is getting done and taxpayer costs are lower, why is more expensive office occupancy being required?