State offices come alive with return of workers
LANSING – State of Michigan offices became more lively Monday as employees began returning to downtown Lansing.
State employees returned to their offices after nearly 18 months of working remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget did not have an exact figure available Monday afternoon of how many ended their stint as remote workers. Half of the state’s more than 50,000 employees worked remotely during the pandemic, including roughly 20,000 workers in downtown Lansing.
State employees are expected to return to their offices gradually, depending on each department’s return-to-work plans, according to DTMB.
Michigan passed the 55% vaccination benchmark on May 10, paving the way for businesses to resume in-person work on May 24. Despite the reopening benchmark, the state decided to delay its return-to-work date.
“Although it is anticipated in-person work may be allowed starting May 24, our previously announced date of July 12 has not changed,” Cheryl Schmittdiel, acting director of the Office of the State Employer, wrote in a letter to state employees in May. “Agency and DTMB staff are working to ensure workplaces meet the latest CDC and MIOSHA standards and your agency is also updating its return-to-work plan.”
State departments and agencies developed return-to-work plans late last year in anticipation of resuming traditional office work. Plans address how departments will screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms, clean their facilities and ensure employees wear masks and stay socially distanced.
Downtown awaiting workers’ return
Local businesses in downtown Lansing faced one of the most difficult years in their history during the pandemic with a dramatically reduced number of daytime workers, Cathleen Edgerly, executive director of Downtown Lansing Inc., said.
“Through courage of heart, innovation, and perseverance – as well as the support of local Lansing residents – these businesses made it through and now, as more workers look to return to their offices, the businesses are definitely looking forward to increased foot traffic and sales downtown,” Edgerly said.
Edgerly said the local economy’s recovery will be gradual but if people work together, the future will be much stronger for downtown Lansing’s businesses and residents.
As workers return, state’s downtown footprint shrinks
The State of Michigan has canceled 13 leases because of the pandemic, leaving a sizable amount of office space vacant in downtown Lansing. State employees who had been stationed in those properties will continue reporting for duty remotely or in state-owned buildings.
The state would leave nearly 200,000 square feet of office space vacant in Lansing.
Those vacancies in downtown Lansing include:
The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity moved employees out of the Victor Building, 201 N. Washington Square, vacating roughly 78,000 square feet of space.
DTMB let a 4,990-square-foot lease expire at the Victor Building.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services canceled a 21,447-squarefoot lease at 120 N. Washington Square.
DTMB canceled a 13,688-square-foot lease at 222 N. Washington Square.
The Department of Military and Veteran Affairs canceled its lease of 14,876 square feet of office space at 222 N. Washington Square at the end of May.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy canceled a lease before they moved in. Employees slated to relocate will remain in Constitution Hall.