Kurt Schlosser’s Post

NYTimes article describes the unique economic issues for D.C. with respect to federal agency return to work practices, and the Board's recent Interim Report that describes a very low attendance. Article is behind a paywall: https://lnkd.in/eGXcRiCu

A few thoughts for the Philadelphia Mayor after reading this article. If you really want us back in the city you need to fix the problems not promise to and demand us back before you make any change. Because: - There’s no tax break for me to come in. In fact it cost more for me to work IN the city than in the burbs or Jersey. Especially as someone who doesn’t reside in Philly. - There’s no supplement for commuting or the time it takes to commute. SEPTA is undependable and barely supports some parts of the city, the traffic on 95 is impossible (try 11 miles in 2 hours). Let’s not even talk about parking fees… - Walking home or to the train at night is unsafe as a woman (or anyone) with a laptop in tow. - We can’t afford to eat at the cafes you want us to patron at lunch because minimum wage is a joke. We won’t be able to afford soda or any non-water beverage because of the sugar tax that goes to the slush fund started by Kenney. Actually we can’t afford anything because your sales tax is higher than the rest of the Delaware Valley. I can keep going, but until you actually make Philly an affordable and safe place to work (not just empty promises), don’t push businesses to force people back because I promise you that talent will quit and move to other towns. #philadlephia #worklifebalance #remotework #wfh City of Philadelphia

NYT “#Almost all U.S. #cities have been #hit hard by #workers turning #away from #downtown offices, #but few have been hit #harder than #Washington. The #International Monetary Fund recently #identified Washington as #one of the #three American #cities with #especially weak #commercial real estate #sectors. But #unlike the #other two, #Seattle and #San Francisco, #Washington is #not a #technology hub #but a #company town that #relies on a #single employer to a #degree not seen #elsewhere. The #local economy is #powered by about 160,000 #federal workers in the #district, who are #only now #slowly returning to their #workplaces from their #suburban home offices. #Last fall, an #annual survey of 625,568 #federal workers #found that #more than #two-thirds were #still working #remotely some of the #time. Nina Albert, the #district’s deputy mayor for #planning and #economic development, said #working with the #federal government to #persuade #workers to #return to the #office was a “#challenge.”

We began planning for our new office space prior to the pandemic, but we always recognized that we must effectively utilize the space to leverage hybrid work, boost collaboration and enhance our workforces’ well-being,” says Jamie Snelson, Shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.    The pandemic forced many to work from home, and #attorneys were uniquely impacted by this sudden change – as their day-to-day lives were mainly spent in the office preparing for trials and needing additional office space for legal libraires and physical documents.     While working from home was a good idea for some industries, it wasn’t feasible long-term for this one, or so they thought.     To help bridge this gap, law firms like Fredrickson worked to proactively update how traditional in-office business was done. For example they introduced their successful Paper Lite initiative to eliminate paperwork. Not only was this initiative successful, but it helped elevate the level of client service the Midwest law firm was able to provide. It also helped made their move into a new headquarter location at KBS’ 60 South Sixth building in downtown #Minneapolis easier.     This week’s KBS Blog explores how the legal industry is navigating return-to-office and finding creative ways to increase office attendance.     Read the full article here >> https://lnkd.in/d6cFur87 #CommercialRealEstate #KBS #Office ##Tenants #Minnesota #LawFirms #Legal #Attorneys #ReturnToWork

NY Employers: As a reminder, today is the deadline to post and distribute the "Your Rights at Work" poster, provided you have at least one employee who primarily works within New York City (whether on a physical or remote basis). This poster (linked below) provides a QR code that brings employees to the New York City Department of Consumer & Worker Protections' "Workers' Bill of Rights", a handout that summarizes general information for applicants and other workers concerning certain city, state and federal rights regarding paid sick and safe leave, temporary schedule changes, minimum wage, pay transparency, paid family and/or medical leave, union organizing, and non-discrimination, and also provides workers with contact information to file complaints or seek additional information with respect to each summarized law. The poster must be displayed in a location visible to employees and also distributed (as well as posted to a business intranet or mobile app that is used as a means to communicate regularly with workers). The Bill of Rights is available in multiple languages, posted on the Department's website. Moving forward, employers must also distribute the notice to all new employees before their first work day. NYC workers may complain to the Department if their employer does not make the poster available. Employers who fail to comply will be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 on a first violation, up to $750 for a second violation within a 2 year period thereafter, and up to $1,000 for further violations, though the statute is unclear on whether collective instances of non-distribution will be counted singularly or otherwise. #NYCKnowYourRights #employeerights #NYemploymentlaw #employmentlaw #NYHRPostings #employmentposters Know Your Rights at Work Poster (nyc.gov)

Office vacancies continue to be a significant challenge in cities throughout America, and the federal government could be doing more to meet that challenge, as reported by The Wall Street Journal’s Peter Grant. Fewer employees in offices translates into less foot traffic in our urban centers and reduced tax revenue to fund city services. We need more proactive and consistent return-to-work policies from federal and local governments to set an example for businesses and lead the way toward a more robust economic recovery.

The bumpy ride for the office market is front and center in Washington D.C. The Wall Street Journal reports mounting issues with vacancy in the DC marketplace. The growth of the remote worker continues to impact the office asset class. The DC office markets issues today are bipartisan but could grow even more difficult if Trump is elected. He has already pledged to abolish the Education Department, which has more than 2,500 employees in the district. The evolution of the office market mirrors that of retail. Each market has its own nuances. Each asset in a marketplace has its own strengths and weaknesses. Another great opportunity for entrepreneurs to find solutions. Will the capital follow? #cre #officemarket #dc #dcrealestate #officetrends

Additional headwinds that the office market is facing. The White House's push for federal employees to return to the office faces challenges in meeting goals, impacting both the economy and real estate. These efforts have faced challenges similar to those in the private sector. The issue is becoming politically contentious, and the approach to office return policies varies among federal agencies and cities. Key points: White House Pressure: Jeff Zients instructed cabinet agencies to shift to more in-person work in the fall, but the desired outcomes have not materialized. Unmet Goals: Administration officials admit that they still have work to do, and the specific extent to which goals have not been met is not publicly disclosed. GAO Review: A Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of 24 federal agencies revealed that, during a 3-week sample period, 17 agencies used only one quarter or less of their headquarters' building capacity. Cost Concerns: Federal agencies spend approximately $2 billion annually to operate office buildings, regardless of utilization, and an additional $5 billion on leasing privately owned office space. National Impact: Large federal workforces in various parts of the country, including Boston, Denver, and Northern Virginia, are experiencing substantial reductions in occupancy. Economic Impact: The slow return to offices has adversely affected office and retail landlords and small businesses dependent on commuter traffic, particularly in the Washington, D.C., region with around 270,000 federal agency workers. Political Implications: The federal return-to-office policy is likely to be a key issue in upcoming elections, with Republican members of Congress pushing for a return to pre-pandemic schedules. Agency Variances: Some federal agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Agency for International Development, have achieved their return-to-office goals, while others have not. Real Estate Impact: The District of Columbia’s office vacancy rate has reached a record 20.3%, and federal agencies, including the SEC and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, have downsized their office spaces. Union Challenges: Unions are advocating for flexible scheduling, arguing that it doesn't hinder performance, while some cities have been more successful than the federal government in bringing workers back, partly due to hybrid workplace options. #wsj #cre #cref #mba #cmbs #officebuildings #distresseddebt #economy #covid19 #federalgovernment #federalofficebuildings https://lnkd.in/g4jKnDvW

Big news for Seattle small businesses! The City of Seattle's council has introduced legislation to extend Seattle’s total compensation model. This policy has been crucial for small businesses, allowing employers to use tips and health benefits to meet minimum wage requirements. Without it, labor costs could rise by 20%, putting a strain on small restaurants and retailers. We need your help to keep this vital policy in place! Stay updated on how you can support small businesses by setting your notifications for our latest posts. Here’s how to do it: 🔔 Visit our profile. 🔔 Click the bell icon (notifications). 🔔 Choose "All Posts" to get every important update! Your support is essential. Let’s work together to keep Seattle's small business community strong and ensure the total compensation model continues to support our local economy. #Seattle #Business #TotalCompensation #SupportLocal #SeattleBusiness #Restaurants

GOP senators seek IG review to see if SBA office space remains underutilized: Republicans on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee are calling for a watchdog review of SBA's office space use. The post GOP senators seek IG review to see if SBA office space remains underutilized first appeared on Federal News Network. #FedearlNewsRadio #News