As negotiations on telework with the state and Civil Service Commission continue, state and judiciary workers are helping us understand how telework benefits the state of New Jersey. Our members at NJ DEP, Josephine and Sandra, sat down with us for an interview to share their thoughts on why state and judiciary workers deserve a permanent telework policy.
At the top of their lists was recruiting and retaining the best people possible to help run our state. "I think a lot of people had a lot of experience remote working over the pandemic, and people like it, and they're looking for that as an option for their jobs," said Josephine, who later expressed that many state workers would consider looking for work elsewhere if telework did not become a permanent policy. Similarly, Sandra shared that remote work is already a staple of the private sector, "I know some of my close friends, really talented professionals, that work in the private sector and they do have that access to working from home. They really have been able to embrace that, doing their jobs to the fullest... but really having that flexibility."
Josephine stated that ultimately, a permanent telework policy would be a sign that New Jersey is listening to the needs of its workers and "wants to support and help their employees as much as those of us who work for the state want to help the people of New Jersey."
Watch the full interview above or on our Instagram page.