Wayne Townsend, acting secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, said employers were “much less insistent” on workers returning to the office in light of the latest health advice.
“More workers are now talking to their employers working from home to a greater extent,” Townsend said.
“A few weeks ago, employers also encouraged people to return to the office. The push for people to go back to the office is not happening as much as it could have been.”
Property Council data released last week showed that occupancy levels in commercial offices stagnated at around 49% in June.
Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said people were now commuting to the office one or two days a week instead of three or four.
“No one wants to see the health care system under pressure,” Guerra said. “People are coming to different agreements with their employers.”
The City of Melbourne stood firm on its flexible working arrangements since the arrival of the new Omicron variants, with nearly 90 per cent of city staff coming into the office.
Ben Cowie, as acting health director earlier this month, had strongly advised people to work from home where possible in July and August, a view shared by federal chief medical officer Paul Kelly.
Last Tuesday, Thomas asked employers to consider work-from-home arrangements that suit them and their staff. The advice, which is a recommendation rather than a directive, left a gray area for employers and staff to navigate.
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The Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) told staff last week they would still be required to travel to the office at least twice a week, but reversed that advice on Friday after inquiries and complaints of the staff
“… [F]Following comments from staff and media coverage over the past few days, we recognize that people may feel unsafe when they go to the office. So if you can effectively work from home, you may choose to do so,” chief executive Martin Fletcher told staff in an email seen by The Age.
Telstra and Westpac have updated their working arrangements to give employees as much flexibility as possible, while NAB, Optus and the Commonwealth Bank continued with their hybrid working arrangements.
A WorkSafe spokesman said employers should consult workers about their circumstances when assessing the risks of COVID-19.
“This includes consulting with workers about their individual circumstances and the suitability of working from home and other flexible arrangements,” the spokesman said.
Speaking to media in Ballarat on Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews said employers and employees needed to find a balance.
“I know there are challenges with working from home … but some changes, I think are here to stay,” Andrews said.
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