COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an announcement made on Tuesday, Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio has mandated that state employees will be required to return to their offices on a full-time basis starting next month.

DeWine’s executive order specifies that all permanent staff members working for state agencies, boards, and commissions must resume a five-day in-office work schedule by March 17 at the latest. The Governor emphasizes that this move is crucial for the efficient service of the public and to optimize the use of available office space, which he believes is in the best interest of the residents of Ohio.

The specified return date aligns almost perfectly with the five-year anniversary of the state’s emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 9, 2020, which initially permitted a shift to remote work for various employees.

Since the emergency was lifted in June 2021, many workers have either returned to their offices full-time or adopted a hybrid work model. DeWine’s latest order, however, calls for nearly all employees to transition back to the office full-time, although it does provide leeway for agencies to grant exceptions in specific circumstances, particularly where their real estate holdings have been drastically reduced. The governor notes that adjustments in office leases and space allocation during the pandemic have saved taxpayers in Ohio considerable amounts of money.

The order highlights that most of Ohio’s state employees have consistently worked on-site, due to the essential nature of their roles in state hospitals, prisons, law enforcement agencies, or other positions that necessitate a physical presence at work.

This directive from DeWine coincides with announcements from several major employers in Columbus, such as American Electric Power and JPMorgan Chase, who are also enforcing a return to full-time, five-day work weeks beginning in March. Additionally, federal employees are facing similar requirements under an order from Republican President Donald Trump as part of broader measures intended to reduce the footprint of the federal government.