[rhexs]

No one is owed a remote job. Unfortunately, if you work for the state, it is highly likely you don't have the skills and leverage to force the issue as most of the positions are just supporting some sort of bureaucracy and fundamentally have to exist because a lobbyist at one point got a law passed. State jobs, like it or not, are often effectively just political appointments.

Also keep in mind that you can't fire or terminate anyone, ever, in the state, so there's also a chance leadership feels this is the first time they can turnover roles that aren't doing much or meeting their goals. That's a very rare opportunity. If you think "rest-and-vest" is bad in tech, you ain't seen anything when it comes to government. Imagine jobs where no one has accomplished anything in a decade or more.

Of course you immediately jump to some sort of conspiracy though.

[hollywood_court]

You made quite a few assumptions there.

She’s a microbiologist. There aren’t any private sector jobs for her around this area unfortunately. It’s either the state or the university (also the state).

She applied and went through the interview process just like anyone else. There was no “political appointment.”

She isn’t allowed to work from home simply because one individual doesn’t like it. Her director refuses to allow it while the director in charge of the other side of the hallway does allow it.

It’s the result of one man imposing his will on others.

[mxuribe]

> ...It’s the result of one man imposing his will on others.

This comment almost sounds like the kind of thing one sees in non-gov corporate america! :-)

[tomrod]

> it is highly likely you don't have the skills and leverage to force the issue as most of the positions are just supporting some sort of bureaucracy and fundamentally have to exist because a lobbyist at one point got a law passed. State jobs, like it or not, are often effectively just political appointments.

This tells me you haven't met or worked with very many people in state or federal jobs. I feel like this needs reasonable pushback.

SOME of the leadership positions are political appointments. The majority of employees are a highly skilled workforce supporting a specific mission of that particular state agency.

And "can't fire or terminate anyone, ever, in the state" is a bit off as well.