Marin County is changing its workplace policy and now expects some employees to spend more time in the office. The Information Services and Technology Department will shift from a two-day in-office minimum to three days a week, starting January 5.
County leaders say this is about building stronger teams and encouraging collaboration. But some employees—and their union—think it’s unnecessary and wasn’t handled well. The debate is heating up in Marin County and seems to echo broader tensions about hybrid work, flexibility, and what organizations really need.
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A New Era for Marin County’s Work Policies
For years, workplaces across Marin—from San Rafael to Novato—settled into hybrid models. People got used to working remotely part of the week.
Now, Marin County’s government is pulling back on that flexibility, starting with the Information Services and Technology Department. The transition began on November 3, with staff required to be in the office at least two days each week. On January 5, that jumps to three days.
County officials believe that working together in person helps people solve problems and feel a greater sense of purpose. County Executive Derek Johnson has said that in-person time creates a space for innovation—something he feels just doesn’t happen the same way over video calls and emails.
Employee Pushback and Union Concerns
Not everyone in Marin’s public workforce buys into the new rule. Systems engineers Jen Lorenzen, Grant Tigrett, and Cathy Clary have spoken up, calling the mandate unfair and poorly communicated. They even wonder if it’s anti-union.
Employees worry the change ignores the realities of different jobs, will make Highway 101 and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard even more congested, add stress, and work against Marin County’s environmental goals to cut commuter emissions.
The Marin Association of Public Employees (MAPE) says the county needs to negotiate the policy with them. Management says they’re willing to bargain, but only about how the policy affects people—not about the policy itself. This difference is stirring up even more debate in civic circles, from Mill Valley to Corte Madera.
Hybrid Standards and Geographic Limits
Employment Director Christina Cramer has clarified that the county’s evolving hybrid standard means staff should work “more than not” on-site. For most departments, that’s three days a week.
The county’s also gotten stricter about out-of-state remote work. Permanent remote jobs from outside California are basically off the table, though there have been a few exceptions.
Alignment with National and Regional Trends
Marin’s decision lines up with what’s happening elsewhere. Leaders like President Trump, Governor Gavin Newsom, and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie have all pushed for more on-site work.
This shift is happening even though surveys show hybrid work is still popular in the Bay Area. About 63% of workers there mix remote and in-person schedules.
From Fairfax to Larkspur, this local policy change is sparking bigger questions about the future of work. Can employees keep the flexibility they’ve come to expect, or will office mandates reshape workplace culture?
The Core Arguments on Each Side
Supporters of the county’s new policy point to some clear benefits:
- Better collaboration through face-to-face conversations
- Stronger teams and workplace culture
- More chances for spontaneous ideas and problem-solving
Employees and union reps see some real downsides:
- Longer commutes, more traffic, and a bigger environmental hit
- More stress, especially for parents and caregivers
- Policies that seem to ignore specific job needs and flexibility
What This Means for Marin County’s Workforce
From Sausalito to Tiburon, a lot of public employees are now wondering how this shift will change their daily routines. There’s a bigger debate here too—how do you balance productivity and team culture with personal freedom and new tech?
Management calls the new standard a move toward more unity. Still, judging by the pushback, Marin County’s conversation about workplace flexibility isn’t going away anytime soon.
As Marin County rethinks its hybrid work model, it’s walking a line between tradition and trying something new. The outcome will ripple beyond government workers, touching local traffic, environmental goals, and even the character of life from San Anselmo’s hills to Dillon Beach’s shore.
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Here is the source article for this story: Marin County wants employees in office more often
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