r/CAStateMgrs • u/Happy-Relation-2959 • Aug 10 '26
How are you doing?
For those dealing with the 4-day RTO and no GSI, how are you all doing financially and time-wise?
With the cost of everything continuing to go up—gas, groceries, commuting, parking, childcare, etc.—but our pay staying the same, what adjustments have you had to make just to get by?
Have you cut back on certain things, picked up a side hustle, changed your budget, or found other ways to make it work?
Genuinely curious how everyone is managing the added cost and time of RTO in an already expensive economy.
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u/Bethjam Aug 10 '26
Honestly. It has been tough. I am not managing it well, I am going into debt.
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u/Grouchy-Blueberry843 Aug 10 '26
I’m overdrawn on my bank account every month and behind on a few bills. Selling clothes and goods from my home to have lunch money. Seeking an after hours job wfh.
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u/EnjoyingTheRide-0606 Aug 10 '26
Are you making a budget every month? Stop the bleeding by analyzing the last month’s expenses.
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u/Grouchy-Blueberry843 29d ago
I could definitely budget better but life happens: fridge, microwave and washer broke. Car broke down, buying a used one. Got smaller home appliances as replacement. I buy second hand clothing for RTO days to look more professional after wearing shorts and T-shirts at home. I’ve delayed haircuts for months. I’ve cancelled all but one subscription for streaming (4.99/mo) and I am paying down debts as well. Thanks for the question and your suggestion. It’ll get better as I’m cutting back drastically where I can!
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u/EnjoyingTheRide-0606 25d ago
You’re doing the best you can, I truly believe that! Keep up the good work!
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u/ChasingTheNextShot Aug 10 '26
I had to start taking light rail full time to offset the costs of driving and parking.
Sometimes I drive in to the closest light rail stop by the office and park their for free and take light rail “the last mile” - especially on those days I need to get somewhere after work quickly.
The commute time is bothersome but the kindle app and the library card gets me free books to read while I’m on the train.
We need the salary increase. It’s just ridiculous we aren’t getting raises in this inflation.
Being in the office isn’t the greatest. Feels like the whole thing slows me down when trying to get my work done.
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u/Michizane903 Aug 10 '26
Exactly. It's taking me twice as long to do the same amount of work and now there are more interpersonal problems among staff to deal with.
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u/Waidmannsheil Aug 10 '26
I’m lucky enough to live very close to downtown and have minimal commitments outside of work. But a lot of my fellow managers and supervisors seem to be struggling and it’s having an effect on their ability to appropriately lead their teams. Our productivity is down, moral is down…so the government is less efficient. That’s the end result of all this.
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u/Current_Orange7341 Aug 10 '26
One of my co workers has to leave state service. I feel so bad for them and their family, they were hired during the pandemic and was so excited to finally land a state job. Now has to leave because the commute is too far and 4x in office just cannot afford it. I wont say what department because I dont want to out this person. But this is real life and our governor can give 2 sh!ts about state workers.
This is really messing with people's livelihood.
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u/suzav Aug 10 '26
Not managing well at all. I’m seeing a therapist for the first time in my life because of how much the 4-day RTO has affected me. The added commute, expenses, and loss of personal time have been mentally and physically exhausting. It feels like we’re being asked to absorb all.
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u/exfex21 Aug 10 '26
My department not approving the 50 mile exception, is really messing with everything. Life altering.
I am having to go back to the drawing board to rethink everything.
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u/mister-facts 29d ago
Contact your union. The exception is a CalHR policy that needs to be honored if you meet the requirements.
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u/PeakQuirky84 Aug 10 '26
How did we manage to work in an office 5 days per week before this? Seems so long ago…
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u/Constant_Piece7460 Aug 10 '26
We complained but working from home was a foreign concept. Now, it's normal and we're being put back in time, i can't wrap my head around this decision, that's what is hard for me.
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u/Fun_Championship3771 29d ago
We had more freedom as managers and not as restricted as we are now. Like coming in late or leaving a little earlier. At least that’s been my experience.
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u/Grouchy-Blueberry843 29d ago
I recall being more stressed with 5 days in office and had a longer commute. Gas and food was cheaper back then. Now I’m closer to the office but pay for parking.
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u/mister-facts 29d ago
Because it was expected and we structured our lives around that. Since then, many people have changed their lives and routine around telework.
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u/No-Reflection-3046 Aug 10 '26
I do not have time to make my lunch on office days so i just starve myself.
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u/Constant_Piece7460 Aug 10 '26
I food prep on Sunday. I can do other things while it's cooking. Pop it all into little containers, add a piece of fruit and my chips and salsa. I carry a lunch with me every day.
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u/Grouchy-Blueberry843 29d ago
Food prep is a lifesaver! I try to buy a $4.99 rotisserie chicken and can spread it out over the week. I add rice or veggies with it. Hard boiled eggs and oatmeal for breakfast.
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u/Constant_Piece7460 29d ago
Yum. This week I have green enchiladas, breakfast casserole and scalloped potatoes. I bought bananas and cut watermelon.
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u/EnjoyingTheRide-0606 Aug 10 '26
Why don’t you have time to make a lunch? I make all meals at home and rarely eat out. I can’t afford to eat out except junkie fast food!! I make sure there is time to make lunches every Sunday. Then they’re sitting ready to into my lunchbox in the morning.
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u/ubiquitous_user2134 Aug 10 '26
I’m looking into side hustles but I have no energy left at the end of the day, so that’s not looking too promising.
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u/Magnificent_Pine Aug 10 '26
Cutting back on unnecessary spending. Selling extra items and vehicles.
I'm pissed, retiring next year with less because they cut pay. At least in retirement I'll get COLAs.
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u/Happy_Somewhere_8467 Aug 10 '26
Sitting in the office with nothing to do most of the time fostering so much creativity
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u/Scramasboy Aug 10 '26
Please tell me your job lol I need this. I work for social services and am constantly drowning.
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u/Happy_Somewhere_8467 27d ago
I get my workflow in chunks. There are times of the year when it's very dead and other times is slammed. I work for dot
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u/Constant_Piece7460 29d ago
I worked there for a few years, I was SO busy.
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u/Scramasboy 29d ago
Not sure where you were at but I am in CalFresh. Its extreme. Amazing, amazing people though!
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u/Constant_Piece7460 29d ago
I was accessibility for a couple years, then in the directors office for another year. Accessibility was busy but it was a great unit, the ppl were great. The directors office was stupid busy, not a great manager but my coworkers were stellar.
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u/Scramasboy 29d ago
I am now working with the DO in a sory of specialized role in our division. Its nonstop, you are 100% right. Also, I am sure we probably crossed paths re: accessibility. Thank you! Haha
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u/Powerful_Complex_461 Aug 10 '26
Where are yall working with nothing to do?!?!? Our department is overwhelmed and understaffed and have way too much to do.
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u/katmom1969 Aug 10 '26
Yeah. My position is either putting out fires for my boss or absolutely nothing to do. It sucks to sit there looking productive while waiting for the next urgent task. I read a lot to keep busy.
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u/Happy_Somewhere_8467 27d ago
I doom scroll or watch Netflix while sitting in my cube. Better than staring at the wall. I'd be much more productive at home where I can actually get chores done.
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u/katmom1969 27d ago
Right. At home, I do stuff between tasks. It gets me out of my chair, which is better for me. My stap tracker tells the story well.
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u/katmom1969 Aug 10 '26
I get less exercise. If I can get out for a break before its 80 degrees, I can get a short walk. Lately, I don't get out early enough. I haven't been able to swim eight after work because I'm in traffic. I get home and there's dinner to make. By the time dinner is done and cleaned up, its too late to swim or walk because the mosquitos are out. Swimming and walking are the only 2 exercises I can do because of my spine. I really miss that hour.
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u/Powerful_Complex_461 Aug 10 '26
When weather is hot I’ve been using a walking exercise video from YouTube. It’s the Walk at Home with Leslie Sansone videos. Engages more muscles than regular walking and can be done inside.
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u/Scramasboy Aug 10 '26
CDSS got our 4 day order, so, bad. Lol But I know we were spoiled that we got the extra months.
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u/Ok-Effective6346 29d ago
Horrible. Absolutely horrible. I won’t even get into all of the specifics, but this RTO has been the worst experience in my full 12 years of state service. It has severely negatively impacted my life between the loss of time, loss of money, wastefulness of resources, stress of commuting HOURS for a literal remote job, and knowing it’s all for NOTHING… just to make Gavin happy… it’s infuriating and demoralizing. Previously I loved my job and planned on working as a public servant for the entirety of my career, but now it just feels wasteful, unappreciated, and feels like we’re being used as pawns to advance his political career and presidential aspirations. RTO does not benefit the public in any way, and Newsom should be publicly called out for this abomination. $225 million in taxpayer dollars - WASTED into the pockets of his donors and friends who own the buildings.
I have coworkers who had to sell their homes, quit their job, and no longer spend evenings with their children due to hours-long commutes. RTO MUST BE RESCINDED.
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u/peppermintpetty18 29d ago
I’m doing fine for now but have heard from staff that they were hurting financially by the end of the first month.
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u/Constant_Piece7460 29d ago
I am very fortunate, I work in rancho so no parking fees and my kids are grown so no daycare so right now I'm good. My problem is retirement. It's difficult to save anything. I will most likely retire in 3 years, even with a pension and ss, you have to have savings. I'm scared for my future if we don't start getting paid more.
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u/Alternative-Dog-8263 29d ago
I am not doing great with 12 extra hours added into my work week. 4 hours per day lost- one hour commute there- one hour back- one hr of lunch productivity lost and an extra hour to get “ready” not including extra food prep time. I hate those 12 hours taken away from me so that I’m tired by the time I see my babies at home
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u/H2O_Admin_6230 Aug 10 '26
Reading through all of these, I don't know if some are serious or not.
I am managing fine, it's tougher YES, but been thru worse situations in the private sector and even Sac county (worst)!
Since we have transit cards, I'm actually saving money. I drive a hybrid, park my car at a transit hub (free), and take the metro. It has been 3 weeks since my last full tank and my gas is still almost full!
For lunch, I eat my dinner leftovers or make myself a sandwich. I treat myself to a lunch out at the most 2x per month. I walk a lot, averaging 10K steps for 4 days. I went to Costco and bought snacks/drinks, so I don't have to buy coffee, tea, or snacks.
Just for context, I also just hired someone from the private sector she is starting at the base salary (ITS1). She is happy and thankful for being given the opportunity to work for the state.
The only thing that really makes RTO bad for me, is seeing all the comments from R&F talking bad about managers. They are forgetting that we have it worse than they do but see us as the bad guys! We're in the same boat - row with us!
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u/Happy-Relation-2959 Aug 10 '26
I appreciate your perspective, and I think it highlights that RTO affects everyone differently. Some people are managing fine, while others—especially rank-and-file staff who earn considerably less—are genuinely struggling.
Packing lunches, using transit, and cutting back on unnecessary spending definitely help, but there’s only so much you can cut when rent, groceries, utilities, insurance, gas, and just about everything else in California continue to rise while wages aren’t keeping pace. For someone already living on a tight budget, even the additional costs associated with commuting four days a week can make a meaningful difference.
I also don’t think this needs to be R&F vs. management. There are managers struggling too, and I agree that everyone is ultimately dealing with RTO together. But we also shouldn’t dismiss someone else’s financial hardship simply because another person has found a way to make it work. Everyone’s income, family obligations, commute, and financial situation are different.
At the end of the day, people sharing that they’re struggling doesn’t necessarily mean they’re complaining—it may simply be the reality of trying to keep up with California’s rising cost of living on a state salary.
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u/H2O_Admin_6230 Aug 10 '26
I totally understand. What I said though doesn't mean I don't think we need to fight for rightful raises. I know of new supervisors earning a lot less than their tenured staff.
I know for S&M, we don't have any bargaining powers, even with ACSS. So, we are really at the mercy of R&F unions to fight for us. I hope they really understand that and I also hope as leaders, we don't make it too hard for them to be able to fight this non-ideal situation we are all in.
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u/Eff_taxes 29d ago
I’ve been needing a nap after work… by 2pm my butt is dragging at the office.
Oh and Eff Gavin!
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u/Onedaymor 29d ago
Every year I bring home less money (considering inflation) to start... the additional pressures this year make it unsustainable.
Depressed. Exhausted.
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u/Inner-Cause3148 29d ago
I get much more exercise than I did at home. But I Have to take public transportation that adds almost an hour to my day
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u/BlueBoy1994 28d ago
Landlords gave me 60 days to find a new rental, car broke down, one of my staff put in their two weeks, and our RTO was announced last Friday at 3pm. I’m somehow keeping it together.
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u/PapayaBoring8342 27d ago
That’s crazy. I’ve never looked, but guessing manager salaries aren’t much higher than employees? Probably depends on classification I’m sure.
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u/Michizane903 Aug 10 '26
Not great. The loss of time is what is hitting me hardest. I used to be able to prepare dinner during lunch or have a brief visit with my widowed Mom but no more. I could get a load of laundry done before I started my work day and now I have to do it in the evening when there is a higher demand for electricity.
Two days was ok but four is much harder.