PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor Cherelle Parker has ordered all city workers to return to their offices full-time this summer.
The order, which goes into effect July 15, impacts nearly 5,000 employees who still work from home part of the time.
“Philadelphia, I want you to know that as your mayor, I made this decision with you in mind,” she said.
Parker says in-person work facilitates communication and promotes social connections, collaboration, innovation and inclusion.
And, to make the transition easier, she intends to extend new benefits, including emergency child and elder care, allowing sick leave for a family need, increasing parental leave, and adding the Friday after Thanksgiving as a holiday.
More than a dozen business, union, and civic leaders praised the decision as a boon for public safety, employment and the general vibrancy of the city. But Parker acknowledged that the unions representing white and blue-collar city workers, currently in contract negotiations, may not be on board.
“I’m sad to tell each of you that, in making this decision as mayor, I've learned that I had to control for people who, instead of thinking about moving our city forward, do, literally, want to see a fight,” she said.
She said she believes she has the power to require workers to return to office without negotiating for it.
“I appreciate and expect everyone’s cooperation with this decision and understand that this transition will require some adjustment,” Parker said.
KYW has reached out to the city worker unions and is waiting to hear back.