By Guy Page
The Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) says it is just 25 signatures shy of 3,000 on a petition opposing Gov. Phil Scott’s mandate requiring state workers to return to their workplace at least three days a week.
3,000 represents a majority of the members of the VSEA, “a non-profit, member-directed labor union representing nearly 6,000 public sector workers in Vermont. VSEA includes employees throughout the Vermont State government including the Vermont State Colleges, Vermont Judiciary, Defender General’s Office, Vermont State Housing Authority, State’s Attorneys’ Offices, as well as State Deputy Sheriffs,” its website says.
In a Sept. 24 letter to state employees, union leaders argue the policy — which they have branded a “return-to-commute” order — will make it harder for employees to do their jobs effectively and could weaken public services Vermonters depend on.
During the Covid crisis, the State of Vermont – like many employers – turned to remote work. However, state employees have resisted calls to return to the workplace in the same numbers as their private sector brethren. But it’s time, the Scott administration says.
“Now that the floods and pandemic are behind us, we’re now at a point where we can address the recovery of our operations as an employer,” Press Secretary Amanda Wheeler told VDC today. “The hybrid approach still gives those who can work from home the flexibility to do so up to two days per week.”
“This policy shift will create a consistent and predictable standard with a more universal ability to collaborate and connect to colleagues, constituents, and communities,” Wheeler said.
It’s also a poor use of the taxpayers’ money to have vacant office buildings, she added.
“As stewards of public dollars, it doesn’t make financial sense to have so many vacant buildings, some of which would be difficult to sell or impossible to terminate existing long-term leases,” Wheeler said.
Union leaders say that at-home work now makes more sense because since Covid, the employment world has changed. They cite prohibitively high housing costs in the Burlington – Montpelier corridor where many state offices are located. Commuter public transportation from ostensibly more affordable rural Vermont is almost non-existent. rivate sector employers can seduce valuable employees with offers to work from home.
“The work culture of the nation has changed,” the union wrote in its message to members. “Remote work is so common that we fear the state will not be able to attract or retain high-quality employees if forced back into the office.”
Working at home cuts down on sick days, and thus allows for more productivity, not less, said one worker in the Sept. 24 letter:
“Prior to switching to remote work, there were many times I had to take a sick day not because I was not capable of accomplishing anything, but because I feared infecting or disgusting my co-workers, or was injured and unable to sit at a cramped desk. Home, with access to a private work space, restrooms, vaporizers, and places to sit with injured legs elevated, I was able to continue working through most maladies.”
In a September 20 video addressed directly at state employees, Scott said his ‘hybrid’ work requirement will enhance work quality, worker collegiality, and transparency to the Vermonters the employees serve. (See extended excerpt below.)
The petition has also drawn hundreds of personal messages from state workers describing how remote work has improved productivity, morale, and retention. One employee wrote that remote work allowed them to remain on the job through illness or injury, avoiding unnecessary sick days. Another warned that Vermont risks losing skilled staff to private employers who continue offering full-time remote options.
Once the petition surpasses 3,000 signatures, VSEA leaders say they will announce a plan to formally deliver it to the governor. In the meantime, the union is calling on members to recruit additional support from friends, family, and neighbors.
In his video, Scott defended the return-to-office mandate as necessary to ensure collaboration, efficiency, and accountability in state government.
“I want you to know this wasn’t a decision we made lightly,” Scott said in a YouTube video aimed directly at state employees. “Now, we recognize the value of this type of flexibility, which is exactly why we’re moving to a hybrid schedule for most employees rather than prepandemic full-time office work.
“But we’re making this change because we need more consistency and predictability across the board. And the reality is we need to get together more in person across departments and agencies. It’s not hard to see that something has been lost when we only see each other on the screen.
“And it’s not just our co-workers, but our colleagues and mentors across state government. One of the things I’m most proud of as governor is the silos we’ve broken down between agencies and departments. But we’ve lost some of that camaraderie and collaboration because we don’t see each other in person. We can hear about what others are working on.”
Scott also said working at the office offers more transparency to Vermonters.
“Another thing I’m proud of is our work together to build faith and trust in government with more transparency, more access, but that too has been impacted by remote work because Vermoners want and need to access their government. They need to see us in their communities. They need to know where and how we work. Most importantly, they want and need us to be good stewards of their tax dollars.”
Federal labor statistics say the State of Vermont labor force at 18,600 annual workers, up from 17,400 in 2021. As of August 2025, 14,000 work in the executive branch alone. This figure does not include municipal or school district employees.
The next largest employer is the UVMMC Health Network, cited at 16,138 in a presentation to the Vermont Legislature Feb. 6 this year. However, that figure includes employees at the three upstate New York hospitals in the network. Employees at its four Vermont operations (Burlington, Middlebury, Berlin hospitals and home health & hospice) total about 12,500.