State workers return to offices June 1

State workers return to offices June 1
By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | June 2025

Downtown will see a surge of activity beginning June 1 as thousands of state employees return to their offices for at least 50% of their workdays. The shift stems from a new policy Gov. Tim Walz approved in March that is designed to fill state office space, improve employee collaboration and create a stronger organizational culture. The policy follows a federal mandate issued in January requiring all government departments to wind down remote work arrangements and transition back to having staff in-office full time. A similar trend is occurring in the private sector and city government. Per St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s directive, as of April 1 all city employees must work in-office at least three days per week.

State government is the second largest employer in Minnesota behind the Mayo Clinic. The governor’s office estimates that 40% of the state’s 45,000-person workforce worked remotely during the pandemic, so the new policy affects about 18,000 employees. Workers living more than 50 miles from their office can get an exemption to continue working remotely. Originally, that minimum was 75 miles but backlash from labor unions spurred it to be lowered. Likewise, specific agencies without enough office space won’t be required to abide by the policy until early September.

tim walz return to offices — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, a labor union representing about 18,000 state workers, has opposed the new policy since it was announced, claiming that some employees were promised the option to work fully remotely when they were hired, and that some workers haven’t had adequate time to arrange childcare since the policy was brought forward.

“I asked the Governor to withdraw the order and let telework be resolved at the bargaining table where it belongs,” said MAPE president Megan Dayton in a statement. “I also asked why this was a unilateral decision made without consulting MAPE. His refusal to engage with labor before issuing the policy was disappointing and contradicts how his administration claims to work with state employees.”

Labor leaders contend that people can be just as productive working at home. Other advocates say teleworking reduces the need for office space and parking, allows for the hiring of skilled staff who live far away, helps the environment by keeping more vehicles off the road, and that employees are happier because they don’t have to spend a portion of their day commuting or dealing with parking. Drawbacks include the loss of in-person collaboration, a lack of social interaction, and a hit to local businesses that lose a big chunk of their customer base. The economic repercussion of telework since the pandemic has been especially evident in downtown St. Paul. State and city officials are hopeful that the resurgence of workers in St. Paul offices will breathe new life into the downtown economy.

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