LINCOLN- On Monday, Gov. Jim Pillen, stating that the COVID-19 pandemic was over, ordered an end to remote work for state employees and directed them to return to their offices full-time by January 2nd of 2024, just a day before the next legislative session begins. Pillen characterized the order as a "common sense expectation."

Justin Hubly, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, which represents nearly 8,000 state workers, said that he's aware of only a few problems related to remote work in Nebraska, and argued that Pillen's move may hurt recruitment and retention at a time when many state agencies are understaffed.

Hubly said it is also very appropriate for some jobs to be done remotely, adding that it might have saved state money as well, up to $500,000 for certain agencies. "We're still super short-staffed," he said, "I'm really fearful if we force people back, we're going to lose a workforce." Pillen, in his executive order calling for the end of remote work by state employees, said he simply wants to bring the state's workforce "to the posture it was prior to the pandemic."

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