Vermont state employees will be required to work in-office at least three days a week after the Vermont Supreme Court overturned a decision from the state’s Labor Relations Board.
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In a decision published Friday, the court ended a yearlong dispute between Gov. Phil Scott’s administration and the Vermont State Employees Association over the state’s Telework Policy, which laid out guidelines for remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision said that the Hybrid Work Standard implemented by the Scott administration was not in violation of the previously agreed upon Telework Policy.
The disagreement stemmed from the Scott administration’s decision in August 2025 to bring around 3,000 state employees back to physical offices on a part-time basis. At the time, Scott said the move would improve employee productivity and foster a better working environment. He said that employees would have to return to the office for at least three days per week beginning in December 2025.
The VSEA pushed back on that decision, with members citing issues with finding affordable housing and other lifestyle changes that would be detrimental to remote workers.
In April, the Labor Relations Board ruled that the administration’s decision to force employees back to the office was an unfair labor practice and was in violation of previously agreed upon remote working terms.
The state appealed that decision, with the Vermont Supreme Court ultimately ruling that the Scott administration was within its rights to change the terms of the remote working policy as it has “‘sole discretion’ to rescind existing agreements and to determine the scope of any approved telework.”
The Scott administration sent NBC5 the following statement regarding the decision:
“I’m pleased that this matter has been resolved by the Supreme Court and thank the Attorney General’s office and the many members of my team for their hard work. Vermont is fortunate to have so many state employees who care deeply about public service.
I believe this policy, and the greater collaboration, creativity, team building and access it creates, is both in the best interest of our state workforce, and importantly, the Vermonters we serve.”
NBC5 has reached out to the VSEA for comment on the ruling.
