After judge dismisses lawsuit, thousands of Philadelphia city workers return to the office full time

Thousands of Philadelphia city employees have returned to working full-time in their offices after a judge denied a union’s request to stop Mayor Cherelle Parker’s order. The union, District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, representing 6,000 workers, had filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that the mandate violated their contract and would negatively impact employees. Additionally, the union lodged a complaint with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, which is still awaiting a resolution.
A two-day court hearing concluded with the judge ruling in favor of the city on Friday evening, permitting the enforcement of the mandate and requiring employees to resume in-office work on Monday. Mayor Parker initially announced the mandate in May as part of an effort to have a more visible and accessible government, thereby discontinuing the city’s remote work policy implemented in 2021 and reverting to pre-pandemic work arrangements.
Approximately 80% of the city’s 26,000 employees have been working on-site since the previous year, while the remaining employees had been working on-site for 31 to 75 hours per pay period. Former Mayor Jim Kenney has delegated hybrid work decisions to department heads earlier.
The union strongly criticized the unilateral implementation of the mandate, arguing that the lack of collective bargaining and the timing of the policy change during the summer break complicates schedules for parents. They also highlighted concerns about inadequate office space and the exacerbation of the worker shortage the city has been facing since the pandemic.
Mayor Parker, a Democrat, asserts that her administration does not consider the new policy as a subject for collective bargaining. She also highlighted changes introduced to be more employee-friendly, including extending paid parental leave from six to eight weeks, designating the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday, and relaxing restrictions on sick leave for caring for family members. Business leaders have welcomed the decision, believing it will have positive outcomes for workers and the vitality of Philadelphia’s downtown area.