Keith Wilson pictured in November after his election victory. Wilson announced on Jan. 14, 2025 that hundreds of city workers in management roles would have to go into the office full-time starting in April.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced that all city managers and supervisors must return to working in office full time this spring.
“I’m committed to a culture of excellence,” wrote Wilson in a Tuesday email to city managers, “and working face-to-face cultivates the collaboration, camaraderie and innovation our city deserves.”
Currently, just 30 percent of the city’s nearly 1,000 supervisors and managers work entirely in person. But 700 of those leaders are working fully or partially remote. In April, they will all need to return to working in the office.
Wilson said the change will improve employee morale and reflect the city’s commitment to “make Portland a safe, clean and welcoming place to live and work.”
Wilson picks up a campaign initiated by Mayor Ted Wheeler, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced many city staff to work remotely for years. Wheeler had argued that the dearth of in-person workers had contributed to declining business revenue in downtown Portland.
Wilson has repeatedly stressed the importance of a return-to-office mandate since his election. In December, he expressed an interest in requiring that all 7,000 city employees work at least four days a week in office – a proposal that was swiftly criticized by city labor unions. Wilson has since walked back that proposal, noting today that he has no plans to change in-person working requirements for non-managerial staff this year. Those employees are still required to spend at least half their work week working in person.
City managers and supervisors don’t have union representation.
Wilson said that requiring managers to return to full-time office work will “set the tone and culture for staff” across the city.
After the April mandate is in place, about 65% of all city employees will be working in person full time.