New South Wales orders public servants back to office
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA — The New South Wales (NSW) government has ordered all public employees to return to their offices starting Tuesday.
Chris Minns, the New South Wales premier, issued a directive on Monday stating that job flexibility should be achieved through means other than remote work, such as part-time positions and role sharing.
Government’s rationale for office return
The government’s decision affects over 400,000 public servants, making NSW the largest employer in Australia to attempt such a reversal of remote working arrangements.
“The role of Government Sector workers goes beyond immediate and day to day duties. All Government Sector employees play a role in building and replenishing public institutions,” the circular read.
“The more our experience of work is shared, the more united we become. That means being physically present in our organisations.”
The directive stipulates that employees should “spread attendance across all days of the working week,” with requests to work from home requiring formal approval for limited periods.
Mixed reactions from unions and businesses
His stance was welcomed by business and real estate sectors in Sydney, which have been concerned about declining office occupancy rates since 2020.
Katie Stevenson, Executive Director of the Australian Property Council’s NSW branch, called it a “game-changer” for struggling city businesses, stating, “More workers mean more life, more investment, and more business for our cities.”
However, unions have criticized the move and vowed to challenge it if deemed unnecessary.
Stewart Little, General Secretary of the Public Service Association, warned of potential difficulties in retaining staff, particularly in critical agencies like child protection where vacancy rates have reached 20%.
He also pointed out practical challenges, noting that government offices have downsized since 2020 and may struggle to accommodate all employees on-site.
Interestingly, the newspaper Daily Telegraph, has been identified as a catalyst behind this shift.
Chris F. Wright, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, suggested that the newspaper’s campaign aimed to revive economic activity in struggling businesses by promoting a return to the office.
As NSW implements this new policy, it stands in contrast to other Australian states like Victoria, which maintains more lenient remote work policies.
This divergence raises questions about the future of work across Australia and challenges years of progressive remote work initiatives aimed at improving workforce accessibility and reducing urban congestion.
Hybrid work demands persist despite RTO mandates in Australia
A recent Morgan McKinley survey underscores the Australian workforce’s enduring preference for flexible working arrangements, even as companies push for a return to office-centric models.
The data, gathered from over 3,400 professionals and 650 employers globally, including participants from Australia, revealed that 97% of Australian workers desire a hybrid or fully remote arrangement.
Sixty-five percent would even forego a pay raise to maintain their desired flexibility. However, 65% of Australian companies are urging staff to return to the office more frequently than last year, signaling a potential clash.
