Vermont State Workers Embrace Remote Work Trend
In an era when corporate America is pushing for a return to the office, Vermont state workers are defying the norm by embracing remote work, a trend that took off during the pandemic and continues to shape the state’s workforce landscape. According to the state’s 2024 employee engagement survey, a staggering 57.2% of state workers are opting to work remotely between one and five days a week, with varying schedules that cater to individual preferences and departmental needs.
Katie Trautz, the Director of Montpelier Alive, a local organization dedicated to supporting downtown businesses, highlighted the impact of remote work on the city’s eateries, noting that restaurants, especially those catering to the lunch crowd, are feeling the brunt of reduced foot traffic. Trautz emphasized the importance of striking a balance between remote work flexibility and supporting local businesses to maintain the vibrancy of downtown Montpelier.
Diverging from the state’s remote work policy, some Vermont workers have been called back to the office, including over 100 employees in the Department for Children and Families who were previously on hybrid schedules. Despite this, the overall state policy on remote work remains unchanged, with Agency/department leadership and management determining the suitability of remote work arrangements for employees based on the nature of their roles.
Statewide Remote Work Trends in Northern New England
Comparing Vermont’s remote work landscape with its neighboring states, Maine and New Hampshire, sheds light on the varying approaches to telework across the region. In Maine, approximately 39% of state workers are currently working remotely for an average of three days a week, signaling a moderate adoption of remote work policies. Sharon Huntley, the Director of Communications for Maine’s Department of Administrative and Financial Services, highlighted the state’s transition from emergency telework during the pandemic to a post-emergency hybrid workforce model.
In New Hampshire, around 20% of state employees—1,928 full- and part-time workers—are currently working remotely, according to Gail Crowdes, the administrator of programs and compliance in the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services. With a significant portion of the state workforce still operating remotely, New Hampshire reflects a mix of in-person and remote work arrangements that align with individual departmental needs and preferences.
Implications and Future Outlook for Remote Work in Vermont
As Vermont state workers navigate the nuances of remote work schedules, the state’s policy landscape continues to evolve to accommodate changing workforce dynamics. With over 1,000 job vacancies, remote work is positioned as a strategy to attract and retain talent, as evidenced by the uptick in job applications in FY24 compared to pre-pandemic levels. The state’s analysis of employee survey results underscores the positive impact of hybrid/telework arrangements on employee engagement and retention.
Looking ahead, conversations between state officials and community stakeholders, such as Montpelier Alive, signal a collaborative effort to strike a balance between remote work flexibility and supporting local businesses. Wanda Minoli, the new commissioner of Buildings and General Services, has expressed a commitment to maintaining downtown vibrancy by encouraging at least part-time in-office work, underscoring the importance of fostering a symbiotic relationship between remote work policies and community engagement.
As Vermont state workers navigate the complexities of remote work, the evolving landscape of telework reflects a delicate dance between flexibility and community support. By leveraging the insights of local leaders, state officials, and employee feedback, Vermont is poised to chart a path forward that optimizes the benefits of remote work while nurturing the economic vitality of its communities. In this delicate balancing act, the future of remote work in Vermont promises to be a dynamic journey of adaptation and collaboration, shaping the state’s workforce landscape for years to come.
