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Mayor Wilson: Managers and supervisors will return to fully in-person work

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The Portland Building, a postmodern structure, nestled among green trees, with a vibrant Max train passing in the foreground.
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Like workplaces all over the world, the City of Portland has grappled with balancing in-person and remote work. Today, I announced Portland’s next step: bringing all managers and supervisors back to their worksites full-time, beginning in April. With this change, nearly 80 percent of all working hours at the City of Portland will be performed in-person. 

Managers and supervisors set the tone and culture for staff across our city. High-performing organizations across the nation have shown us it’s possible to bring people back together, while also remaining flexible. The City of Portland is committed to a culture of excellence, and working face-to-face cultivates the collaboration, camaraderie and innovation our city deserves. It also reflects the urgency of our work to end unsheltered homelessness and make Portland a safe, clean and welcoming place to live and work. 

This shift applies to approximately 700 managers and supervisors who currently work hybrid or remote schedules. When they come back to worksites full-time, they will join the majority of our workforce – about 3,500 people – who serve Portland with fully in-person roles. Every day, city employees show up to care for parks, fight fires, fix potholes, provide safe places for homeless Portlanders to sleep, and so much more. 

Workforce Breakdown after April Changes
 NumberPercent of workforce
Fully in-person employees 4,243 64 % 
Hybrid employees 1,892 28 % 
Remote employees 539 8 % 
WORKFORCE TOTALS 6674  

Letter from Mayor Wilson to managers and supervisors:

January 14, 2025

City Managers and Supervisors,

Like workplaces all over the world, the City of Portland has grappled with balancing in-person and remote work. I am writing today with news about our next step: bringing all managers and supervisors back to their worksites full-time, beginning in April.

This shift applies to approximately 700 managers and supervisors who currently work hybrid or remote schedules. By coming back to your worksite full-time, you will join the majority of our workforce – about 3,500 people – who serve Portland with fully in-person roles. 

I’m committed to a culture of excellence, and working face-to-face cultivates the collaboration, camaraderie and innovation our city deserves. It also reflects the urgency of our work to end unsheltered homelessness and make Portland a safe, clean and welcoming place to live and work. We are facing a crisis, and we need to act like it.

Over the past month, City leaders and staff have shared their perspectives about workplace models. Your input is well-heard, and I have carefully considered what’s best for our organization before making this decision. 

As managers and supervisors, you set the tone and culture for staff across our City – thank you. I know you’ll do everything in your power to make this change a successful one. High-performing organizations across the nation have shown us it’s possible to bring people back together, while also remaining flexible. Under existing policy, in-person managers may continue to flex time to go to appointments or family commitments. Remote workdays remain an option, at your discretion, to accommodate travel or occasionally go heads-down on major work projects. 

This news will undoubtedly raise questions about our long-term workplace policy for other employees who remain remote and hybrid. Employees who are designated hybrid will still be required to spend at least half their worktime doing in-person work. I do not anticipate making any further policy changes for non-managerial staff in 2025. 

Within the next week, our Human Resources team will reach out with details about managers’ transition to fully in-person work. Thank you for your service to Portland and commitment to a Portland where every community member thrives.

Mayor Keith Wilson

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