Ohio Gov. DeWine echoes Trump, orders state workers return to office

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Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor )

Ohio is reversing remote work policies, with Gov. Mike DeWine ordering state employees back to the office full-time by mid-March. The move follows other major companies in the state, including American Electric Power and J.P. Morgan.
The executive order also mirrors President Trump’s mandate for federal workers to return to the office.
DeWine said the state saved millions on rental costs during remote work.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Tuesday, Feb. 4, reversing the state’s remote work policies for state employees and following the lead of major companies who have already brought their employees back to the office. DeWine’s executive order also mirrors President Donald Trump’s recent requirement for federal workers to return to in-person work five days a week.

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Ohio’s top employers, including American Electric Power and J.P. Morgan, have already implemented similar mandates.

On his first day in office, Trump pushed government agencies to end remote work and bring employees back to the office as soon as possible. Department heads now have 30 days to get federal workers back in-house.

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Ohio state employees to return to office

When COVID-19 peaked in March 2020, many of Ohio’s state employees began working remotely through an emergency declaration by DeWine. While most employees remained in-person due to the nature of their jobs—including hospital staff, correctional officers and law enforcement—25% of state employees continued working from home.

Ohio ended the initial declaration in 2021, bringing most workers back to the office full-time or in a hybrid role.

DeWine said the state saved millions by utilizing state-owned facilities and reducing rental costs through remote and hybrid work. However, he adds this new executive order will help maximize those savings as employees return to the office and continue relying on state facilities.

Exceptions for special circumstances

DeWine’s order includes exceptions for companies needing new office space and employees facing personal circumstances that prevent them from working in person.

The governor’s order gives state employees until the middle of March to return to the office.

Tags: Columbus, Donald Trump, federal employees, JPMorgan, Mike DeWine, Ohio, Remote work

[Karah Rucker]

FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF MANY MAJOR COMPANIES IN RECENT MONTHS – OHIO ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THE STATE WILL BE REVERSING REMOTE WORK POLICIES.

THE ORDER FROM REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE MIRRORS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RECENT REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL WORKERS TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK. SOME OFOHIO’S TOP EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER AND J-P MORGAN HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SIMILAR MANDATES.

ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, TRUMP PUSHED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO END REMOTE WORK AND BRING EMPLOYEES BACK IN PERSON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DEPARTMENT HEADS NOW HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET FEDERAL WORKERS IN HOUSE.

WHEN COVID-19 PEAKED, MANY OF OHIO’S STATE EMPLOYEES BEGAN WORKING REMOTELY IN MARCH 20-20 THROUGH AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION BY DEWINE.

THOUGH MOST REMAINED IN-PERSON DUE TO THEIR JOBS—INCLUDING HOSPITAL STAFF, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT—ACCORDING TO TUESDAY’S EXECUTIVE ORDER.

OHIO ENDED THE INITIAL DECLARATION, BRINGING MAJORITY OF WORKERS BACK TO THE OFFICE IN 2021 EITHER FULL TIME OR IN A HYBRID ROLE.

BUT DATA FROM OHIO’S DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SAYS 25 PERCENT OF STATE EMPLOYEES STILL WORKED FROM HOME.

GOVERNOR DEWINE SAYS ALTHOUGH THE STATE SAVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY UTILIZING STATE OWNED FACILITIES AND REDUCING RENTAL COSTS THROUGH REMOTE AND HYBRID WORK–HE ADDS THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL HELP MAXIMIZE THOSE SAVINGS, AS EMPLOYEES RETURN TO THE OFFICE AND CONTINUE TO RELY ON STATE FACILITIES.

DEWINE’S SIGNATURE INCLUDES EXCEPTIONS FOR COMPANIES IN NEED OF NEW OFFICE SPACE AND EMPLOYEES FACING CIRCUMSTANCES PREVENTING THEM FROM WORKING IN-PERSON.

THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER GIVES STATE EMPLOYEES UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF MARCH TO RETURN TO OFFICE.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER