News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Thousands of State Employees Still Working Remotely Despite Return-to-Office Order
About one-fourth of Oklahoma’s state employees have maintained their employment flexibility after Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a return-to-office executive order in December.
Almost 8,000 state employees out of the 26,000 covered in a report for the first quarter came under one of several exceptions to the return-to-office mandate. Most of those employees were at agencies that didn’t have the office space to accommodate a full return to the office.
Stitt directed the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to compile agency responses to the executive order, although more than 50 agencies failed to respond. Almost 26,000 state employees out of 31,600 were covered in the first quarter report.
The governor’s office was listed among the agencies not responding to the OMES report, but spokeswoman Abegail Cave said all the governor’s staff work in the office.
“The governor wants all state employees back in the office to serve Oklahomans well,” Cave said.
Stitt’s executive order had three exceptions to the policy: employees whose hours are outside normal business hours; employees who already work in the field; and when new or additional office space would have to be acquired at additional cost.
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association said Stitt’s executive order created widespread confusion among state employees when it was issued. Many were surprised because Stitt had touted the benefits of a flexible work environment during the pandemic and the state spent millions in federal COVID-19 relief funds to update remote-work technology.
“A one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work for the wide range of services provided by our diverse state agencies,” OPEA said in a written statement. “When state employee positions are eliminated, we risk losing essential services — including frontline workers who support our most vulnerable citizens.”
The state had not previously compiled a comprehensive list of agency employees by their work location and arrangement, making it difficult to compare what happened at most agencies in response to Stitt’s policy.
Still, some agencies provided telework information in budget planning documents. OMES had 30% of its employees working remotely in fiscal year 2024, while another 60% were in a hybrid work arrangement. The first quarter 2025 report showed 37% of OMES’ 960 employees were granted an exception from the return-to-office executive order.
The state’s largest agency, the Department of Human Services, reported 82% of its 6,048 employees were on some type of hybrid or telework arrangement. During the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, DHS closed dozens of county offices or found other agency office space for its employees to use.
“Many of our staff work directly in the field, serving Oklahomans rather than operating from a traditional office setting each day,” DHS spokeswoman Carrie Snodgrass said. “We continue to evaluate office space to ensure a comfortable and efficient work environment for our employees, as well as the necessary accommodations to best serve our clients. As we implement the executive order, we are making real-time adjustments to meet operational needs while supporting our workforce.”
In its response to OMES, the Department of Environmental Quality asked to continue a hybrid work policy revised by the agency in 2022. DEQ said a full return to work was complicated by the demolition of an aging parking garage next to its downtown Oklahoma City headquarters. The agency leased temporary parking during demolition and construction of a new parking garage, but it wasn’t feasible to expand those parking options with a full return-to-office policy. The new parking garage is expected to be finished by April 2026.
“By allowing these staff members to work a partial telework schedule, it is estimated that the agency will save approximately $250,000 during the demolition and construction activities,” Robert Singletary, DEQ Executive Director, wrote in a Jan. 3 letter to OMES. “Given the agency’s current budget constraints and the temporary nature of this challenge, procuring additional parking spaces does not appear to be a prudent alternative.”
About 30% of DEQ’s 527 full-time employees are on a hybrid or remote work arrangement, according to the first quarter report.
When he took office in January 2023, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters issued a return-to-office policy for the State Department of Education. The agency’s first quarter report to OMES showed 51 of the agency’s 414 employees, or 12%, were granted exceptions to Stitt’s executive order.
In a statement, Walters said the agency has regional representatives across the state to maintain connections to local communities.
“The Oklahoma Department of Education was the first agency in the state to end work-from-home arrangements,” Walters said in the written statement. “Our priority is to be fully present for the students and communities we serve. Having our team on-site strengthens collaboration and accountability.”
The Oklahoma Tax Commission said agency directors and public-facing employees work in the office. But the agency doesn’t have enough space to accommodate a full return-to-office policy for its 600 employees since its move to the Strata Tower in downtown Oklahoma City. That move consolidated three Oklahoma City office locations and reduced its office footprint by 100,000 square feet.
“New or additional space, including parking, would have to be acquired at an additional cost to the OTC to have sufficient physical space to perform their duties 100% of the time in office,” Executive Director Doug Linehan wrote in a January letter to OMES.
Like their counterparts in the private sector, hybrid or remote work has been popular among state employees. An OMES survey published last year, before the executive order, found widespread satisfaction with telework or hybrid work. It had responses from 16,000 employees across 111 agencies.
Rep. Cyndi Munson, the House Democratic leader, said allowing widespread telework flexibility was a benefit for many state employees, especially among working parents. She worried the executive order could deter prospective employees from considering state employment.
“The biggest concern when the order came out was that folks would lose their jobs,” Munson said. “We don’t want that, because we need people working in state government.”
A lawsuit challenging Stitt’s executive order, brought by Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, was dismissed by an Oklahoma County district judge in March. Fugate appealed that order to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The post Thousands of State Employees Still Working Remotely Despite Return-to-Office Order appeared first on oklahomawatch.org
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This content appears to provide a neutral, fact-based reporting of Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s return-to-office executive order and the challenges state employees are facing with the policy. The article primarily presents responses from various government agencies and political figures, including statements from both the governor’s office and public employee associations, without taking a clear ideological stance. The concerns raised by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association and Rep. Cyndi Munson, along with the facts surrounding exceptions to the executive order, are presented in an even-handed manner, focusing on the implementation of the policy and its effects on employees.
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor defying the odds
SUMMARY: Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor Genna was told she had about a year to live four years ago. After over a decade battling cancer, including being on oxygen and using a wheelchair, she joined a clinical trial at OU Health’s Stephenson Cancer Center. Now, she feels great, no longer senses her cancer, and is holding stable. Genna is back to gardening and training for the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. Her mindset is crucial—she fights back from setbacks and encourages others to keep trying and consider clinical trials. Genna’s legacy is resilience, inspiring her family and community.
An Oklahoma City breast cancer survivor is redefining what’s possible after what appeared to be a terminal diagnosis.
Stay informed about Oklahoma news and weather! Follow KFOR News 4 on our website and social channels.
https://kfor.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/kfor4news
https://www.facebook.com/kfor4
https://twitter.com/kfor
https://www.instagram.com/kfortv4/
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Body of missing 22-year-old swimmer recovered
SUMMARY: The body of 22-year-old Michael Jayden De Barra, who went missing while swimming in the Deep Fork River on the 4th of July, was recovered Saturday morning. Rescue crews initially suspended their search Friday due to turbulent waters but resumed at 11:00 AM Saturday after a police drone located his body downstream. Family members, devastated by the tragic loss during their holiday celebration, described Michael as charming, a family man who loved God, animals, Morgan Wallen, and was a proud business owner. The family has requested privacy, and a GoFundMe has been established to support them during this difficult time.
New Event Stay informed about Oklahoma news and weather! Follow KFOR News 4 on our website and social channels.
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed
Search on hold for missing swimmer
SUMMARY: Search efforts for a missing 22-year-old swimmer in Northeast Oklahoma County have been put on hold after he went under the Deep Fork River near Bullhead Falls. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on July 4 during a holiday outing with friends. Emergency crews from Oklahoma City and Luther, including a helicopter, searched extensively but were forced to call off the operation due to dangerous conditions like strong currents, recent heavy rains, and submerged trees. Rescuers say the man was swept away by roaring rapids; despite attempts, it was too risky to continue water searches. The family remains in grief, hoping for updates.
Search on hold for missing swimmer
Stay informed about Oklahoma news and weather! Follow KFOR News 4 on our website and social channels.
https://kfor.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/kfor4news
https://www.facebook.com/kfor4
https://twitter.com/kfor
https://www.instagram.com/kfortv4/
-
News from the South - Arkansas News Feed7 days ago
Real-life Uncle Sam's descendants live in Arkansas
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed6 days ago
'Big Beautiful Bill' already felt at Georgia state parks | FOX 5 News
-
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed6 days ago
LOFT report uncovers what led to multi-million dollar budget shortfall
-
The Center Square4 days ago
Here are the violent criminals Judge Murphy tried to block from deportation | Massachusetts
-
Local News6 days ago
Maroon Tide football duo commits to two different SEC Teams!
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed6 days ago
Raleigh caps Independence Day with fireworks show outside Lenovo Center
-
The Center Square6 days ago
Alcohol limits at odds in upcoming dietary guidelines | National
-
Mississippi News Video7 days ago
Today’s First Alert Weather Kid is Ashlyn (7/4)