Vermont State Employees Secured Approval for Remote Work

A decision has granted state employees in Vermont the ability to work remotely.

A decision issued by the Vermont Labor Relations Board has granted state employees the ability to work remotely. This development comes after a challenge to a previous directive by Governor Phil Scott, which required state workers to resume in-office duties for a minimum of three days each week by the end of December last year.

The Vermont State Employees Union opposed the governor's policy, advocating for a return to a framework that allowed for telework agreements to be evaluated individually. The board found that remote work falls under the purview of mandatory negotiations as established by the State Employees Labor Relations Act, asserting that imposing such a requirement without negotiation violates established labor laws.

Despite this new ruling, the administration indicated intentions to contest the decision, highlighting concerns about its implications for both state operations and Vermont residents. In a response to the ruling, the administration criticized the decision as flawed and claimed it sets a troubling precedent for future governors.

Previously, a court had already dismissed a request from the VSEA for a preliminary injunction to stop the return-to-office requirement. In preparation for the anticipated influx of employees, the state has initiated a lease for additional office space in Waterbury to accommodate those returning to in-person work.