Like many of her California state worker colleagues, Annabel Vera has been watching the news with increasing concern.

Officials limited gatherings to 250 people, then 50, then 10 to limit the spread of coronavirus, yet many state workers are still going to work.

“We all work in buildings where there are thousands of people there,” said Vera, 29, an analyst at the Department of Social Services office in Sacramento. “You’ll have 10 people or more in an elevator just getting to your cubicle.”

She and two friends wanted to do something about it, so a week ago they launched an online petition demanding Gov. Gavin Newsom allow teleworking for all state employees who can do it, guarantee paid sick leave and provide sanitation and protective equipment.

Now the petition has more than 700 signatures. And many state workers are still reporting to crowded offices to do work they feel they could accomplish from home.

California Department of Human Resources Director Eraina Ortega issued a directive supporting telework Tuesday night. More workers are starting to get telecommuting agreements today, but their availability still varies greatly from department to department and manager to manager, according to state workers and some unions.

“Really what I’ve seen on the ground is that people are seeing other units and seeing other people with similar jobs to theirs sent home, but they’re being asked to stay and come in to the office,” Vera said.

The petition doesn’t display the number of signups in real time. Vera said the group may deliver it to the Governor’s Office in some fashion, along with a total number of signups. The signup form asks for names, email addresses and departments.

Vera launched the petition along with Jillien Davey, 27, who works in the CalPERS investment office; and Elliott Stevenson, 34, who declined to identify the department where he works.

Vera and Davey each recently received telework agreements, but they’re continuing to promote the petition to try to get the agreements for more workers.

“I don’t feel like what we are asking for is too much,” Davey said.

The three know each other through their work on a labor subcommittee of the Democratic Socialists of America.

They considered delivering their message to the Governor’s Office but quickly decided against that given the circumstances, so they decided on digital action.

Vera said she initially expected maybe 50 responses.

“It just shows me that people are really kind of yearning for a strong institutional response,” she said of the 700 signups.

This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 3:46 PM with the headline "Hundreds of California state workers petition for telework, sick leave as coronavirus spreads."