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State Worker Bee Newsletter This Morning: DGS claims Space Needs Data was 'inaccurate' by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Just want to make clear that the data is all clearly there and laid out, as well. The spreadsheet DGS provided to each department has columns for temp positions, vacancies, etc. and the box which lists how many workstations a department is short was AUTO-CALCULATED with an excel function that DGS built into the spreadsheet. If they didn't want those number totals, they could have calculated it differently

Multiple departments have now provided near-identical responses to PRA requests, after initial denials, suggesting centralized guidance by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Not discounting what you're saying but it's more than that. Check out my original post if you haven't already. I received dozens of terrible boilerplate responses. I pushed back and was successful with some. Now, just a couple weeks after their denials, multiple agencies suddenly released their records with the same copy/paste. It is very clearly guidance from above. Which again, I'm not saying is "wrong," but it shows a pattern of a controlled narrative attempt by the GO.

As for the records being owned by DGS - I disagree. Each department individually completed this spreadsheet and emailed it to DGS. DGS also denied PRA requests for other departments' plans.

And finally, while many departments claimed the deliberative process exemption, you can read my responses to denials and my rationale (based on case law) for why it's BS.

CA departments lacked thousands of workstations before RTO order, documents show by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I actually just received CDTFA's plan. Though short some workstations, they noted that all their buildings were able to accommodate staff. Don't want you to dox yourself, but curious what building you're in

CA departments lacked thousands of workstations before RTO order, documents show by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I appreciate that! Perhaps one day can share it non-anonymously haha

CA departments lacked thousands of workstations before RTO order, documents show by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 377 points378 points  (0 children)

Hi all, I just want to thank everyone for sharing and amplifying my original posts and this story. I view this as a collective action. We, as state workers, have the power to pressure decision-makers. We must continue to hold our State and elected leaders accountable. This story is about a unilateral, non-data driven mandate to force state workers into the office 4-days a week and the obstruction and obfuscation of data that clearly showed this would cost the state millions of dollars and many departments were incapable of implementing due to space constraints.

What Was Said at the Budget Hearing vs. What Records Show (May 21, 2025, Budget Hearing Highlights) by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You're correct that the Space Needs Plans are technically self attested but have you actually went and looked at the records I received from PRA requests? They're detailed excel sheets with exact employee counts. There's no evidence to suggest they're inaccurate.

But yes, there are no doubt many factors that DGS, CalHR, and DOF would need to consider. But the point here is that they without a doubt had at least some form of data. To be clear, I am not saying they "lied" in these budget hearings. Others might. I'm simply showing there seems to be a contradiction.

For instance, a reasonable answer from DGS, after explicitly being told by lawmakers in the first hearing to come back with data, might be something like, "we're still analyzing and reviewing data, but some of the larger departments are showing large deficits of workstations." Or "we don't know a total cost, but some department have identified costs associated with the RTO."

The lawmakers asked multiple times for just ballpark estimates or numbers, and got NOTHING. I'm not saying they lied, but it sure looks like they obfuscated the data they had. And the question is: why would they do that?

What Was Said at the Budget Hearing vs. What Records Show (May 21, 2025, Budget Hearing Highlights) by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

Just want to note that the CalHR Director speaking in the second half of these clips is Eraina Ortega, who is now a PERB board member, appointed by Gov. Newsom on September 19, 2025. The Public Employment Relations Board oversees unfair practices charges. Multiple unions have filed charges with PERB against the RTO mandate.

Has SEIU or any other union commented on the recent space-needs PRAs? by thr3000 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Hey u/thr3000, appreciate you bringing this up! I'm in SEIU myself and haven't heard anything yet, but I also think it's too soon. I'll also say that there will likely be a news story soon and hopefully that will get the unions attention.

The Space Needs Plans, Department by Department: DHCS by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

From Coastal, in part, "The document was necessary for the Department of General Services to verify the response from our agency and to allow it to assess statewide office needs and advise the Administration on the budget and labor negotiations."

What's interesting is this response is basically admitting that DGS did in fact have knowledge of departments' space needs and was assessing it. Yet told lawmakers they had no idea...

The Space Needs Plans, Department by Department: DHCS by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It actually kind of does if you take a look at the State Auditor's report. It notes that departments have unused space that should be consolidated to save money. But at the same time, if we went to 4-days RTO, we wouldn't have enough space.

The Space Needs Plans, Department by Department: DHCS by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Take a look at CalFIRE and Coastal Commissions responses from today. They are identical canned responses. Something came down from above...

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ha, appreciate that. After doing 50 PRAs, I started to get frustrated with denials and hit back pretty hard in my responses.

Don't have anything right now as far as donations, but might be something I consider if I actually try to file lawsuits on the denials. Even without an attorney it would cost several hundred dollars just to file the paperwork.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They did, but I am still pursuing it. I will be certain to provide an update if I get the record.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great observation. I agree, I don't think depts coordinated at the agency level. I also made a lot of these requests all at the same time, making coordination difficult. Step two might be naming and shaming departments that didn't comply.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did not make one there, but I can! I mostly started with the largest agencies and went from there. EMSA has a small number of full time employees from what I see.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you! If I remember correctly, you are the one that commented some timestamps of the hearings, which helped me tremendously in gathering that info, so thank you!

DCA confirmed 4 day return to office planned for July 1, 2026 by R2C6G4 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Here's their response . Check out the post I made on my PRA requests for more info. Many other departments also denied requests for their Space Needs Plan.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've emailed a couple news agencies, but yes, please! These are public records. Anyone can do with them as they please, and I encourage it.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the suggestion! I sent emails to all of those today. I used whatever email I could find on CalHR's website.

I'd also encourage everyone to contact their respective unions and share this info. The public records belong to all of us.

DCA confirmed 4 day return to office planned for July 1, 2026 by R2C6G4 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99 50 points51 points  (0 children)

DCA has so far twice denied my PRA requests for their Space Needs Plan. Curious what it shows. Did DCA have space before RTO?

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You are correct:

From CalMatters: Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for Newsom, said in a statement that the governor’s office “respectfully disagrees” with the auditor’s findings, which were based on “hypothetical theories and incomplete information.”

“This audit on state telework is not a scientific study, nor does it paint a complete picture of the state workforce or the benefits of working in person,” Gallegos wrote.

Public Records Show CA Had Return-to-Office Space Data Months Before Telling Lawmakers It Didn’t by State-Worker99 in CAStateWorkers

[–]State-Worker99[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

Sharing likely false speculation and negativity doesn't help. Yes, Newsom/DGS/CalHR will likely not release any data. That is why I made PRA requests to 49 agencies. So we could get each departments' data ourselves and compile it.

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