Arkansas Ends Remote Work and Expands Infant in Office Policy

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is putting Arkansas families and taxpayers first with a bold overhaul of state government policies that prioritize both accountability and family values. The Republican governor announced sweeping changes under her Arkansas Forward initiative, which includes ending pandemic-era remote work and expanding a pro-family Infant at Work program.

Effective October 1, remote work for state employees will come to an end. In a letter sent to government workers, Sanders made it clear: “The pandemic is in the rearview mirror. It’s time to leave the inefficient policies implemented five years ago in the past, too.”

Here’s what’s changing under Arkansas Forward:

• Remote work is ending: All regular remote work will be phased out. State offices will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with an emphasis on in-person meetings.

• Infants welcome at work: Parents of newborns (aged 4 weeks to 6 months) will be allowed to bring their infants into the office with supervisor approval. This pro-family policy was successfully piloted in the Governor’s Office and Department of Human Services and is now going statewide.

• Flexible but present: While remote work is going away, standardized flexible and alternative scheduling will be available for employees if they’re showing up in person.

“As a working mom, I know how important a child’s earliest months are for bonding and education,” Sanders wrote. “I want to make sure we provide additional options for families to have flexibility and not have to choose between staying home with their infant or returning to work.”

This move isn’t just about policies it’s about performance. According to Sanders, Arkansas Forward has already uncovered at least $300 million in savings, while also increasing pay for two-thirds of state employees, aligning their compensation more closely with the private sector. It’s a common-sense approach that values work ethic, results, and family stability.

Let’s face it: remote work might have been a temporary fix during COVID, but it quickly morphed into an excuse for less accountability in public service. Taxpayers deserve more. State government isn’t a tech startup it’s a service arm of the people.

Sanders summed it up plainly: “State employees serve our citizens best when they collaborate in person.”

While the Left continues pushing for indefinite work-from-home setups and “equity” experiments, Arkansas is charting a smarter course protect families, improve services, and save money.

This is what responsible, conservative leadership looks like.

Share with someone who still thinks government should work from the couch. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop.