City of Seattle Executive Branch employees will be expected to be in-person three days a week starting November 4, as other private and public sector partners, including King County and Sound Transit, share their return to office policies supporting increased in-person collaboration.
Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that City of Seattle executive branch employees will be expected to be report to their worksite in-person three days a week starting November 4, building on efforts to improve collaboration and service to residents while still allowing remote work flexibility. Joining the mayor and City of Seattle, several regional public and private employers announced changes to their in-person work policies and reported more positive employee experiences with increased in-person collaboration.
“As a city and an employer, we strive to provide the best services to our residents, to build a great office culture for our employees, and to learn the best lessons from the pandemic and modern organizational behavior – and that includes recognizing the benefits of in-person teamwork,” said Mayor Harrell. “As one of the first regional employers to bring employees back to the office, we’ve been encouraged by the embrace of this policy and what we’ve seen as a result: improved collaboration, a strengthened ability to foster conversations and explore new ideas, enhanced community and relationship building, and a real commitment to mentorship and employee growth. Today’s announcement will help us further achieve those goals as we work to create an office atmosphere that is safe, innovative, welcoming, and rewarding for all.”
The City of Seattle was one of the first major employers to bring employees back to the office at least two days per week in 2022 as the pandemic receded, joining the over 65% of City employees regularly reported to their worksite throughout the pandemic to perform essential non-remote functions. The City has nearly 14,000 total employees and approximately 13,300 of them work for executive branch departments and offices.
“King County was among the first to transition to remote work during the COVID-19 crisis to ensure workers’ safety while continuing to deliver high-quality services, and has been a regional leader in how we recover, rebuild, and rebound from the pandemic. We are now in a much better position to have more people working in person more often, to leverage the advantages those interactions bring to collaboration, creativity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging, while continuing to benefit from the efficiencies, convenience, and flexibility of remote work,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are committed to centering equity across our workforce and job functions, guided by our true north and leading with our values, as we begin this new stage of our operations. We will build on the lessons learned from in-person and hybrid work, maximizing the benefits for our employees, residents, and the entire region.”
King County will also implement a return to worksites at least three days a week, beginning with executive branch department directors in November. Each department director will develop a plan by January 2025 for an increased on-site schedule and strategy for hybrid workers. More than three-quarters of King County employees currently work on-site daily, delivering the critical services communities rely on. This new stage of operations will leverage the benefits of in-person work such as cohesion, teamwork, and a stronger sense of connection across teams and with the people King County serves.
“As we continue to expand our system, Sound Transit is ready to provide the mobility backbone that supports downtown Seattle reaching its full potential,” said Goran Sparrman, Interim CEO of Sound Transit. “We will also be leading by example. We will soon be shifting our own agency culture to prioritize in-person work, leaning into and returning to the best of in-person work, where people collaborate, innovate, and build communities together.”
Seattle is experiencing a steady increase in the number of in-office employees from April 2023 to July 2024, according to a recent Seattle Metro Chamber survey. Most businesses offering remote work still have employees coming into the office.
- 99% of remote-capable employers in the region recently reported employees in the office three or more days per week.
- The number of businesses with employees in the office at least two or more days a week is up 13 points from a spring 2023 survey.
What People Are Saying
“While the pandemic showed us that we can keep our economy moving even when we couldn’t be together in person, businesses large and small are now telling us that in-person collaboration is a must-have, and that it enhances both their ability to successfully do work and the employee experience,” said Rachel Smith, president and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber. “Plus, humans are an essential element of vibrant downtowns – something that is a priority for us and Mayor Harrell. Today’s announcement is a good move for City of Seattle employees and residents alike.”
“Data we’re tracking shows that more employers are making similar decisions and the back to the office momentum continues,” said Jon Scholes, Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO. “In June, downtown averaged 93,000 workers per day (who were in the office at least three days a week) – the highest daily average in more than four years. This is an important move by the Mayor that’s good for the City, the public and for downtown.”
“Having our HQ employees in the office at least three days a week has had a significant impact on our overall effectiveness and culture as an organization,” said Devin W. Stockfish, President and CEO, Weyerhaeuser. “We’ve been able to create a more collaborative and dynamic atmosphere with more opportunities for interaction across teams, which is particularly important for newer employees. It’s also been great to see the benefits of having more foot traffic in the Pioneer Square neighborhood and helping support all the restaurants and businesses that are an essential part of the downtown community.”
“Our team is more productive, more connected, and better able to solve problems when we have regular in-office time together,” said Ada Healey, Chief Real Estate Officer for Vulcan Real Estate. “The real estate business is hands on, whether standing over a table reviewing project plans, meeting over coffee with a prospective retail tenant, or adding finishing touches to new apartment homes to welcome a residential community. All those activities enhance both the employee experience and the vibrancy of our City, and we appreciate Mayor Harrell taking this step to bring the same to City employees.”
“As a Jesuit university, the kinds of educational experience Seattle University seeks to create for our students requires relationship and personal engagement,” said Eduardo Peñalver, President of Seatle University. “That is why, after the pandemic, it was so important for us to immediately return to on-campus operations. And our current policy serves us well: it sets an in-person default for faculty, staff, and administrators, but allows for flexibility when there is a risk of negatively impacting the student experience. I think the City of Seattle will experience the same benefits we have in terms of community relationship building.”
“As members of the Puget Sound community, it’s encouraging to see this positive step from the City of Seattle and King County,” said Shannon Loew, Vice President of Global Real Estate & Facilities at Amazon. “I’ve experienced firsthand the collaboration and innovation that can happen when our teams work together in person. We look forward to seeing more people downtown to support local small businesses and help our public spaces and parks feel even more vibrant.”