SC state officials question McMaster’s decision to transition back to the classroom

COLOMBIA, SC (WIS) – Starting this week, many state employees will be returning to their offices for the first time in more than a year.

Governor McMaster announced in a executive order Last Friday, the state will begin facilitating the return of state employees to the workplace full-time.

He said in a statement: “Now that the majority of Southern Carolinians are eligible to receive the vaccine, and infections and hospitalizations have dropped significantly, heads of state agencies can safely bring back the last group of civil servants who work remotely. ”.

State officials, who asked to remain anonymous to protect their jobs, said they were nervous and upset.

“We are so close,” said a public official. “We have been doing this for a year. We finally have vaccines. We were told that we will have vaccines for everyone who wants by the end of May, so why now? Why hurry this up? We are not there yet. “

An official said the announcement was irresponsible and hurried.

However, the president of the South Carolina Education Association, Sherry East, said recently that many teachers questioned why state offices were closed, but schools were returning to face-to-face classes.

“It seems a little hypocritical to try to force teachers back into a situation with a lot of people where we can’t distance ourselves socially, but you didn’t open offices that could keep you safe because you’re not close to a mass number of people,” said East.

Some state officials have said that they do not need to be in person to do their job and do not feel it is safe until more people get the vaccine.

“They are nervous about being back. They are nervous with the expectation of having changed and with the expectation that everything will be back to normal now. “

District 72 Representative Seth Rose said he was also concerned about the decision.

“We are starting to get out of this and we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Rose. “Why are we sending thousands and thousands of people back to work? The question is, are they being productive working remotely? And the answer I received is yes. “

A former employee told WIS that concerns about the transition back to face-to-face led him to resign last month. Other officials said many are now struggling to find childcare accommodation in time to return in person.

McMaster’s executive order also lifted the mandatory rule for the use of face masks in government buildings.

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