Rozar calls for plan to get workers back in-person

Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) gave the following comments last week during a press conference on Assembly Bill 89, which would require Governor Evers to submit to the legislature a plan for when all state employees will return to in-person work at the offices of their agencies.

“This bill does not require employees to return to in-person work, it simply requires a plan for doing so,” she said. “Moreover, this bill does not address the merits of in-person work, although those merits are numerous, nor does it address the safety of in-person work. These side issues can be incorporated into the plan if the governor chooses to do so.”

As the State Legislature continues their 2021-23 budget process, Rep. Rozar points out the budget implications of this legislation: “The state spends significant dollars on maintenance, utilities, and insurance of state owned buildings, as well as leases for office space and buildings where few, if any, employees are working. There are also 2021-23 capital requests for a new Milwaukee State Office Building at a budgeted cost of approximately $164 million and $4 million to begin the preliminary design plan for the redevelopment of the existing GEF 1 building in Madison.

“Why would money be spent on new office space if there are no plans for anyone to work in it? A plan will help to budget hard-earned taxpayer dollars for these expenses.”

This comes following the New York Times reporting that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has submitted a plan for 80,000 employees to return to inperson work starting May 3.