DHS Secretary Abruptly Ends Remote Work; Orders Employees To Return To Office

It continues. What first seemed like a pulling back of sorts from remote work now appears to be a full-blown backlash. More and more companies—and their executives—are announcing return-to-office (RTO) mandates and developing polices to wholly end remote-work arrangements for employees. It’s DHS this time.

DHS administers President Trump’s order to end remote work.

On Monday, President Trump began his second term ordering an end to remote work via executive order for federal government employees. Secretary Huffman is demonstrating that he received the message. Huffman ordered a full end to remote work for DHS employees the same day.

Luke Barr reports that ABC News gained exclusive access to a DHS internal memo verifying that Benjamine Huffman, acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ordered that his executive team require respective employees return to office in-person, five days a week.

Ending remote work is becoming popular.

Remote work expanded and strengthened over the past five years, and governments and corporations led the way. Now, it’s precisely governments and corporations which are leading the way for its downfall.

Some large organizations have recently decided to reduce or fully eliminate remote-work options for employees. You have the likes of Walmart, AT&T, Amazon and JPMorgan calling it quits on remote work.

DHS gives employees 30 days to comply with the end to remote work.

Secretary Huffman informed DHS employees that the percentage of time allocated for remote work is unacceptable. In the memo ABC News verified, Huffman informs that, “It is the policy of this agency for employees to work at their duty station — whether in an office or in the field — to the maximum extent.”

Huffman’s executive team has 30 days to execute his order and ensure all employees are in compliance with the new in-person, in-office policy or that they provide evidence or documentation to support the contrary.

Secretary Huffman has requested a full listing of every employee who—after 30 days—still isn’t working in person. These individuals will need to provide an acceptable reason for consideration or, likely, need to make alternative employment decisions.

In order to ensure compliance with his order and minimize conflicts, Huffman noted that any and all policies or directives that create a conflict with his order to end remote work must be rescinded.

Recommended reading:

Trump Signs Order Ending Remote Work; Mandates Federal Workers Return To Office

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