New York is considering allowing some city employees to work remotely: Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday he is considering allowing some city employees to work remotely again.

Asked during a press conference if he would consider allowing city employees to work from home, Adams said he had already asked city agencies to “think of creative ways to be flexible.”

Adams’ commitment to working “in a team” and adapting to remote work is a dramatic reversal of his stance just a year ago, when he denounced remote work and famously told New Yorkers, “You can’t stay home in pajamas all day.”

At the time, Adams argued that remote workers were hurting service-oriented companies that rely on a steady stream of customers.

“That accountant who is not in his office is not going to clean,” Adams said during a speech last February at the state Democratic Committee convention.

“He won’t go to a restaurant. This does not allow cooks, waiters, dishwashers [to make a living]” Added Adams.

Being flexible, Adams noted that his administration is working to ensure that everything is fair for city employees and that they avoid “a two-tier system where some can work from home and others can’t.”

“So we want to say, as a team, how do I make sure my civil servant colleague says you should come, how do we compensate you in some way? And that’s what we need to do,” Adams added.

It’s not clear what “flexibility” will be given to some city agencies, which agencies will be included, and when the change could happen.

Its promise to be flexible also comes as the city — and the nation as a whole — struggles to fill thousands of jobs.

Adams said the city plans to become competitive in its efforts to fill public service vacancies.

“Now we need to be clear. Keep hearing everyone say this is a New York City crisis, this is a national crisis of how we transition to a post-pandemic work environment.”

Adams’ change of heart on remote work also comes as it was reported that working from home has caused Manhattan to lose at least $12.4 billion a year as workers in Manhattan spend an estimated $4,661 less per person in the boroughs. next to their offices.