Gov. Mike Braun ends remote work for Indiana employees

INDIANAPOLIS — Newly-inaugurated Indiana Governor Mike Braun is taking swift action to eliminate remote, hybrid and work-from-home options for State employees.

In March 2020, the State of Indiana took action to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing many Hoosiers to work from the safety of their homes. Braun is now saying – after five years – it is time to eliminate remote work options for Indiana employees.

In an Executive Order filed earlier this week, Braun said that all full-time employees working for the State of Indiana must return to in-person work by the middle of the year. Specifically, all departments and agencies must have all workers return to the office by July 1, 2025.

The Order states that, since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency was ended in March 2022, the “conditions necessitating non-traditional work environments have significantly improved.” However, Braun says a “significant portion” of State workers are still on remote or hybrid schedules.

In 2024, the State’s Executive Branch reportedly logged 7,317,984 hours of remote work from 10,588 employees working under remote work agreements.

In his order, Braun wrote that under an efficient government all State agencies are to be held accountable for how they spend taxpayer money. Particularly, the governor said this requires ensuring State employees operate to the best of their abilities while being paid with tax dollars.

Read more at: https://fox59.com/indianapolitics/gov-mike-braun-ends-remote-work-for-indiana-employees/