Jan 24, 2025 - Politics
Utah's federal employees ordered back to the office
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About 8,400 federal employees in Utah were working remotely — but no longer, now that President Trump has ordered workers back to the office full time.
- That's about 15% of all federal employees in the state.
Why it matters: The federal government will have a tougher time attracting and retaining talented employees, experts told Axios' Emily Peck.
The big picture: As the labor market slows — and businesses care less about hanging on to employees — bosses are starting to curtail remote options as a way to execute layoffs without technically having to fire anyone.
- 75% of workers with jobs that could be done remotely said their employer has enacted in-person mandates, per a Pew Research survey released last week. That's up from 63% in 2023.
Zoom in: Gov. Spencer Cox, who once called himself a "televangelist for telework," said last week he plans to require more in-person hours from state employees, too.