A new Whole of Victoria Government (WoVG) policy to address working from home arrangements for public sector staff is to be released shortly, replacing existing policies across the Service.
Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Chris Eccles foreshadowed the change and the release of a new Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) advice document related to working from home.
“This is necessary because existing polices and OH&S procedures do not allow for current unprecedented circumstances with so many people working from home,” Mr Eccles said.
“The safety and wellbeing of staff is very important and regular advice and tips to support you will be provided in coming days and weeks,” he said.
Mr Eccles said the WoVG policy would include a decision by the Victorian Secretaries Board to provide staff required to work from home with a payment of $100 for home office expenses and $20 per week for home office consumables and utilities.
“The payment will be processed through payroll but given the volume of payments required this may take some time so I ask you to please be patient,” he said.
“This prevents the need for making and processing expense claims.”
Mr Eccles asked staff that were already working from home to advise their managers of any items they had relocated from their workplace desks.
“For staff who are yet to transition to work from home, items that managers agree can be taken home safely (such as a keyboard and mouse) are OK to be moved but must be recorded,” he said.
“For items a staff member would like relocated but cannot be taken home safely (such as chairs or monitors on public transport), Departments can provide them with a taxi voucher, or the cost of a taxi can be claimed back from the Department at a later time.”
He said staff who had already transitioned to work from home should not return to their workplace unless it was essential to do so.
Mr Eccles said updates to Victorian Public Service (VPS) employment-related matters had also been issued, further clarifying the use of leave categories and providing advice relating to the impact of decisions to close Government services.
