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Santa Cruz County’s push to reduce hybrid work for health care workers defies data — and common sense
In an era when Santa Cruz County’s own civil grand jury has labeled local mental health services “underfunded, understaffed and overworked,” county leaders are now pushing a policy that would make conditions even worse: scaling back hybrid work and forcing health care staff into the office more often. Social worker and SEIU Local 521 president Max Olkowski-Laetz writes that the change will exacerbate burnout, drive resignations and undermine services residents rely on — especially as an aging population increases demand. Hybrid work saves employees time and money, improves mental and physical health and significantly reduces turnover, with no added cost to the county, he writes. Reversing these policies would put thousands more cars on Highway 1 and contradict the county’s own climate and equity goals. Health care workers will appear before the board of supervisors Tuesday.
