Fresh off an out-of-the-office workcation to Asia where he wined and dined with foreign dignitaries, gave them cowboy hats, and showed off his impressive height, Ole’ Stitter issued a proclamation yesterday requiring “all full-time employees to perform their work in the office, facility, or field location assigned by their agency, and not from a remote location by February 1, 2025."
In the proclamation, Stitt claims he’s implementing the policy to “ensure state employees are operating at the best of their abilities while being compensated by taxpayer dollars,” but we all know the real reason – weed out happy employees who like working from home, pander to his DOGE friends in Washington, and show Paycom Solo-CEO Chad Richison that they do have some things in common.
You can view the proclamation below.
It contains far fewer typos than his infamous 2023 “State Employee Recgonition Day” proclamation.
It’s also filled with loopholes that allow his agency subordinates to grant limited exceptions, but considering most agency heads are more loyal to Stitt than Oklahoma taxpayers, I have a feeling they’ll be discouraged from using them.
I’ve been working from home as my own boss since 2011, and there are definitely some pros and cons to the deal.
For example, it’s kind of cool to work from your couch and pet your dogs when you need a quick break or distraction. That’s great for mental health! Then again, it’s not cool when the Amazon driver rings the doorbell while you’re writing an article, and the dogs go nutso like a pack of Tasmanian devils. That’s not good for mental health!
Anyway, one thing I’ve learned from working from home – and talking to others who work remotely – is that productivity and performance have more to do with the person than the place they work.
Although it’s easier for a slacker to slack off at home, trust me on this: we… err… they will still find a way to do anything but work – like maybe create a popular blog or something – while in their cubicle or office.
The same is true for those self-righteous annoying assholes we know as hard workers. Whether they’re at home, in the office, or doing yard work, they’re going to show off and work hard and get things done regardless of the setting.
That’s why I think remote work should be dealt with on a case-by-case and/or agency-level basis that considers a variety of factors, not an all-encompassing policy that may force a lot of square pegs into round holes.
Basically, if it’s better for the state to have an employee work from home, let them work from home. If it’s better for the state to force them into an office with other disgruntled co-workers, put them in an office. You can even get the employee’s input on the matter. What a concept, huh?
Then again, what do I know?
I’m just taking a practical and pragmatic approach to the issue. I’m not a power-hungry right-wing ideologue who has an agenda against state employees, wants to score brownie points with Elon Musk, and also put a little coal in stockings around Christmas time.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
