Wisconsin’s work-from-home policies for state employees are at the center of a legislative and political debate. A new bill, SB 27, aims to require most state employees to return to in-office work by July 1, 2025, reversing pandemic-era remote work allowances. However, Governor Tony Evers has strongly opposed the measure, signaling a potential showdown over the issue.

SB 27: A Mandate for Office Work

The proposed SB 27 bill mandates that state employees must work from their designated office locations during their regular hours. This move would largely end remote work options for thousands of state workers. However, exemptions exist for specific services, such as telehealth, and for roles that were historically remote before March 1, 2020.

Republican lawmakers argue that requiring employees to return to state offices ensures accountability and maximizes taxpayer investment in state-owned office space. Meanwhile, opponents, including many state workers and Democratic leaders, stress the benefits of remote work, including cost savings, worker satisfaction, and the ability to attract a geographically diverse workforce.

Where Wisconsin’s State Workers Live and Work

Wisconsin’s state workforce consists of nearly 30,000 employees, with significant concentrations in key counties:

• Dane County: Home to 8,051 state employees (27.4% of the total) and 11,501 employees working there (38%).
• Milwaukee County: 2,371 employees (8.1%).
• Winnebago County: 2,225 employees (7.2%).
• Racine County: 1,437 employees (4.9%).
• Dodge County: 1,238 employees (4.2%).

Despite Dane County hosting the highest number of state employees, Juneau County has the highest percentage of its population working for the state (2%), followed by Dane (1.4%) and Columbia (1.23%).

A 2024 Department of Administration report provided insight into state office usage, showing that only 31.1% of workstations were occupied in a UW System Administration building and that usage ranged from 34.5% to 0% across 15 state agencies surveyed in 2023.

Governor Evers’ Strong Opposition

Governor Tony Evers has made it clear he will not sign the state budget if it includes a forced return-to-office requirement. In a recent “UPFRONT” interview, he defended remote work, citing its role in expanding job opportunities outside of Madison and Milwaukee and improving workforce diversity.

“We’ve heard for years the idea that it’s unfair so many state workers come from Madison and Milwaukee. Well, we went out of our way to hire people in Rhinelander and across the state because they can work remotely,” Evers stated.

With the 2025 deadline approaching, the debate over SB 27 continues, with state employees, lawmakers, and the public weighing the benefits of in-office work against the advantages of remote flexibility. Whether the bill becomes law may depend on negotiations between the Republican-controlled legislature and the governor’s office.