South Carolina limits remote work for state employees with new order
SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES — South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has issued an executive order directing updates to remote work policies for state employees, a move that could reshape how government workers balance flexibility and accountability in the years ahead.
Eligibility, restrictions tightened for remote work
The Executive Order 2025-31, issued on September 12, requires all state agencies to submit telecommuting policies to the Division of State Human Resources for approval before employees are permitted to work remotely.
As part of the framework, telecommuting is capped at two days per week, with consecutive remote workdays such as Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday explicitly prohibited.
The order states that telecommuting is not a universal employee benefit; thus, once an agency’s telecommuting plan has been approved, the final approval rests solely with agency directors.
The ability to work remotely is completely prohibited for those in positions of authority at the highest levels, including agency directors, deputy directors, division heads, and managers who report directly to them.
Employees must also meet specific eligibility requirements to gain access to telework. A minimum of one year of satisfactory service is required, and workers with recent disciplinary actions or poor performance reviews are excluded.
Additionally, agencies retain the right to revoke telecommuting privileges at any time, with no recourse under the state’s grievance procedure.
“It’s important that we have clear, consistent, and accountable policies on telecommuting and remote work for state employees across the board,” said Governor McMaster on his Facebook post.
He also mentioned in his Facebook post that the law mandates that these policies be formulated to attain cost reductions and enhanced efficiencies in the functioning of the state government. They are not tailored to accommodate a specific lifestyle or individual preference.
Implications on state workforce and future of work
The executive order sets clear boundaries for telecommuting, including limits on consecutive remote workdays, eligibility requirements, and revocation policies.
Telecommuting is positioned as a structured work arrangement intended to maintain efficiency and accountability within state agencies.
The state is taking a balanced approach to hybrid work in government by limiting the number of days that employees can work remotely to two per week and exempting top executives from this restriction. The responsibility of ensuring that employees comply with the rules lies with the agencies; those employees who do not comply run the risk of having their privileges to telecommute revoked.
Despite the implementation of these updated regulations, the future of work remains a work in progress. Governments and companies all around the country are still trying to figure out how flexible arrangements affect overall operations, employee performance, and overall productivity.
