Thousands of Philadelphia workers return to office Monday after Mayor Parker mandate
City giving out free incentives as thousands of workers return to office due to Mayor Parker mandate
Approximately 4,500 remaining remote workers must return to the office on Monday after a judge denied an injunction over an order from Mayor Cherelle Parker. FOX 29's Ellen Kolodziej captures reactions to the news from Philly business owners and city workers.
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia may be even more bustling this week as thousands of city employees head back to their desks after years of working at home.
Approximately 4,500 remaining remote workers must return to the office on Monday after a judge denied an injunction over an order from Mayor Cherelle Parker.
The Philadelphia mayor issued the order back in March, defending her controversial decision this past week.
"I made a decision that I stand by firmly and that is in order to make good on that promise to you that I need Philadelphia's municipal workforce to return to office to provide valuable support and services to youth," Parker said.
Mayor Parker stands firm on return-to-office mandate as deadline looms for Philly workers
Philadelphia's remote workers must return to the office by next week under an order by Mayor Cherelle Parker, who defended the controversial move during a Wednesday morning press conference.
Parker’s back-to-work order for city employees, still working from home, or on a hybrid schedule, has faced push back from unions.
District Council 47 sued the mayor's administration, forcing a court hearing last week in an effort to put Parker’s order on ice.
A judge rejected the argument made by lawyers for the union that there should be an injunction to stop remaining city employees from returning to work.
The union says the Parker Administration has not heard the last of the subject.
However, as of Monday morning, all of Philadelphia's 25,000 city employees will be back in the office in the city’s new post-COVID work world.
"We want to welcome everyone here to being in the office as we seek to create a more vibrant workplace, and we think that translates in the long run into better services for every city resident," said Joe Grace, Director of Communications, Mayor Parker’s Office.