Government employees in the US who are still working remotely will have to return to office or risk being placed on administrative leave. Elon Musk has warned all workers to start working from office this week as it has already been a month since President Donald Trump’s executive order to return to office.
Trump had directed all heads of federal agencies to ensure that all remote workers be ordered to work from the physical office and put an end to such flexibility.
The Office of Management and Budget exempted those with valid reasons or disabilities and medical conditions from this mandate. As per OPM, an agency that works in collaboration with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), about 10 per cent of the US government employees who are covered under these exemptions are actually working remotely full time.
Federal employees are still reeling under the shock of the e-mail sent by Musk’s team to submit a report with five bullet points describing the tasks they accomplished during the previous week as part of their duty. The e-mail also stated that if the employees failed to respond to the mail within 48 hours, that is, by Monday, 24 February, they risked losing their job.
The mail was widely criticised for its lack of respect. Some heads of government agencies even asked their employees to not respond to the same assuring them that their employment will not be at risk.
