Nebraska state agencies say they can end remote work options now despite legal battle

[Omaha Steve]

https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/nebraska-state-agencies-say-they-can-end-remote-work-options-now-despite-legal-battle/article_1d1880ba-b6f2-11ee-94ab-4ffacd8b88f8.html

By Erin Bamer Jan 19, 2024 Updated 1 hr ago

LINCOLN — Lawyers for several Nebraska state agencies contended Friday that Pillen administration did not violate an order by terminating remote work arrangements for employees.

A Lancaster County District Court judge heard arguments from the state and Nebraska's largest state employee union in a case involving Gov. Jim Pillen's return-to-office directive. The state Commission on Industrial Relations had ordered a pause in Pillen's directive while the matter was litigated, but the state's Revenue and Health and Human Services departments still sent emails to employees requiring them to work from the office.

The Nebraska Association of Public Employees then went to court and asked that the state be held in contempt for a "willful violation" of the CIR order. Judge Andrew Jacobsen did not issue a decision Friday.

The dispute began with Pillen’s Nov. 13 executive order requiring state employees to return to working in their offices, effective Jan. 2. The order called for employees to work in their offices from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some exceptions.

FULL story at link above.