Shannon Bond

There aren't enough desks or computer monitors. Internet connections and Wi-Fi service can be slow or unavailable. You know, I even spoke to people at the FDA who went back to the main office in Maryland last week. They're nervous to drink the water in the building because last year testing found Legionella bacteria in some FDA buildings. That causes Legionnaires disease.

There aren't enough desks or computer monitors. Internet connections and Wi-Fi service can be slow or unavailable. You know, I even spoke to people at the FDA who went back to the main office in Maryland last week. They're nervous to drink the water in the building because last year testing found Legionella bacteria in some FDA buildings. That causes Legionnaires disease.

There aren't enough desks or computer monitors. Internet connections and Wi-Fi service can be slow or unavailable. You know, I even spoke to people at the FDA who went back to the main office in Maryland last week. They're nervous to drink the water in the building because last year testing found Legionella bacteria in some FDA buildings. That causes Legionnaires disease.

Now, the agency notified employees coming back that it is safe to drink the water. But some say because they haven't made new testing results available, they just don't want to risk it. The FDA told me it's keeping employees up to date on their working conditions.

Now, the agency notified employees coming back that it is safe to drink the water. But some say because they haven't made new testing results available, they just don't want to risk it. The FDA told me it's keeping employees up to date on their working conditions.

Now, the agency notified employees coming back that it is safe to drink the water. But some say because they haven't made new testing results available, they just don't want to risk it. The FDA told me it's keeping employees up to date on their working conditions.

Well, about 10 percent of federal employees were fully remote, according to a federal government report last year. That's around 288,000 people, and many more had the ability remotely. to work from home sometimes. And of course, Michelle, teleworking increased a lot during the pandemic.

Well, about 10 percent of federal employees were fully remote, according to a federal government report last year. That's around 288,000 people, and many more had the ability remotely. to work from home sometimes. And of course, Michelle, teleworking increased a lot during the pandemic.

Well, about 10 percent of federal employees were fully remote, according to a federal government report last year. That's around 288,000 people, and many more had the ability remotely. to work from home sometimes. And of course, Michelle, teleworking increased a lot during the pandemic.

But actually, many federal agencies had been encouraging telework going back decades as a way of saving on costs around like, you know, real estate, utilities, office space. The Office of Personnel Management found telework saved taxpayers more than $230 million in 2023. And the government was encouraging telework during the first Trump administration as well.

But actually, many federal agencies had been encouraging telework going back decades as a way of saving on costs around like, you know, real estate, utilities, office space. The Office of Personnel Management found telework saved taxpayers more than $230 million in 2023. And the government was encouraging telework during the first Trump administration as well.

But actually, many federal agencies had been encouraging telework going back decades as a way of saving on costs around like, you know, real estate, utilities, office space. The Office of Personnel Management found telework saved taxpayers more than $230 million in 2023. And the government was encouraging telework during the first Trump administration as well.

You know, many of the employees that I spoke with said this is not about They don't want to go back into the office, that it's inconvenient or that they're being lazy. They say that for them, remote work has enabled them to be more efficient, to be more productive. And then getting rid of it feels like an indirect way of pressuring them to quit.

You know, many of the employees that I spoke with said this is not about They don't want to go back into the office, that it's inconvenient or that they're being lazy. They say that for them, remote work has enabled them to be more efficient, to be more productive. And then getting rid of it feels like an indirect way of pressuring them to quit.

You know, many of the employees that I spoke with said this is not about They don't want to go back into the office, that it's inconvenient or that they're being lazy. They say that for them, remote work has enabled them to be more efficient, to be more productive. And then getting rid of it feels like an indirect way of pressuring them to quit.

And they say it just doesn't make a lot of sense bringing people back into offices that can't accommodate them. It's actually going to cost the government money.

And they say it just doesn't make a lot of sense bringing people back into offices that can't accommodate them. It's actually going to cost the government money.

And they say it just doesn't make a lot of sense bringing people back into offices that can't accommodate them. It's actually going to cost the government money.

It is.

It is.