Sixty per cent of professionals already work from home, and the government is seeking to enshrine that flexibility in law. Photo: Kris Prahl.
The Allan Labor Government has announced the introduction of new legislation in Victoria to protect work-from-home arrangements.
Popular since the pandemic, working from home has become more common among Australian employees, with more than a third of workers and 60 per cent of professionals regularly doing so.
“More than a third of Australians are working from home regularly, including more than 60 per cent of professionals – and the data says they are more productive, benefiting businesses and the economy,” Industrial Relations Minister Jaclyn Symes said.
Under the proposed legislation, if a worker can reasonably do their job at home, they have the right to do so for a minimum of two days a week. This covers the public and private sectors.
The Victorian Government said working from home was good for families and businesses, claiming the practice saved Australians an average of $110 a week or $5308 a year.
The government’s statement also indicated that working from home would help cut congestion by reducing the average Victorian’s commute by three hours a week.
Working-from-home arrangements were also more inclusive, the government said, with flexible arrangements opening opportunities for women with children, carers and those with disabilities to work. The government said the post-pandemic rise in working from home was to thank for a 4.4 per cent higher workforce participation rate.
Those who work from home are working nearly 20 per cent more hours than those who attend an office full time.
“Work from home works for families and it’s good for the economy,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“Not everyone can work from home, but everyone can benefit.”
Harking back to the recent federal election, the Victorian Government said working from home was under attack and it hoped to enshrine the option in law to give workers more flexibility in the future.
“Liberals hate work from home and they dream of abolishing it. That’s why we’ll protect it in law,” Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny said.
Each business type and size will be taken into account when drafting the legislation, and the kinds of work that can be done remotely will be considered.
Consultation regarding the reform will focus on the effects of legislation reflecting the reality of working from home, including what is practical and what is already effective in workplaces across the state.
The government said working from home should be a right.
The proposed reform is to be introduced next year.
