Michigan agencies: remote vs. in-person worker rates
Michigan state agencies report widely varying levels of in-person, hybrid, and remote work, according to records obtained from more than a dozen agencies, as the state prepares to implement a new budget requirement that agencies develop plans addressing how often employees work in person. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which oversees numerous professional licensing and regulatory functions, reported that 1,068 employees work hybrid schedules and 596 work entirely in person, with no employees designated as fully remote. Other agencies reported substantially different workforce arrangements, ranging from predominantly hybrid or remote models to primarily in-person work, while some positions involve significant fieldwork or travel. The findings have prompted calls from legislative leaders for greater transparency and a more uniform state policy, raising broader considerations for professional regulatory organizations about how workplace arrangements affect agency operations, public accessibility, workforce management, and the delivery of regulatory services.