Steve Metzer

Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY — An executive order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt to end most remote work by state employees should stand, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of state employees were allowed to work from home, and the state invested millions of dollars in federal relief aid on remote-work technology. As pandemic fears eased, however, Stitt issued an executive order late last year calling on state employees — with limited exceptions — to return to their offices or field work sites by Feb. 1.

The order was challenged in a lawsuit filed by state Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, who argued that the Legislature should have had a say in the decision. Fugate also maintained that remote work has benefit

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