NYC Spends $206M On City Workers' Return To Office In May

New York City NY

23 April, 2021

4:13 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY —Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday the Mayoral Restart Taskforce has approved the return to office plans for 65 mayoral offices and agencies, whose employees are scheduled to be back in-person working on Monday, May 3. De Blasio said New York City has spent over $206 million to ensure office buildings would be ready for the workers' safe return, and that further resources would be allocated should any safety adjustments need to be made. "New York City will spare no effort to ensure our public servants return to workplaces that are fully equipped to keep them safe," de Blasio said in a statement. "With nearly six million vaccine doses already distributed, and individualized safety plans for every office, now is the perfect time to take the next step in building a recovery for all of us." According to a release, return plans for city workers are in alignment with extensive guidance developed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Office of Labor Relations. The occupancy numbers are based on physical distancing and HVAC-related factors and with the understanding that mandatory face coverings, cleaning and health screenings also will be in place. The city said approximately 220,000 employees have been in the office or the field throughout the pandemic. Those scheduled to return on May 3, have been teleworking. The current plans call for approximately 43 percent of the city workforce to be in the office every day, while the mayor's office will operate at 50-percent capacity. Nearly 180,000 city workers already had received their first vaccination dose, while over 146,000 have been fully vaccinated, according to a release. David Chokshi, the city's health commissioner, emphasized vaccines are an essential component to the safety of city workers and New Yorkers in general. "I also urge every New Yorker - including municipal employees - to get vaccinated," Chokshi said in a statement. "It is the single greatest precaution we can take to protect ourselves and those we love."