One of President Donald Trump’s first moves was to repeal the Work From Home program for Federal employees with an executive order.
Some employers want all their staff back in the office. Others are ambassadors for flexible working arrangements. Many are undecided, even unsure.
Here are some facts, forecasts, and opinions that may help you determine the best course of action for your organisation.
» 36% of Australians now work from home regularly (ABS), down 1% from the year before.
» Splits: 60% of Professionals and Managers compared to 21% for other occupations.
» Why WFH – 25% flexible working arrangements. 20% home-based job or business. 10% to save time and money on commuting. 8% for childcare or family responsibilities (HILDA).
» Participation in the workforce increased by 9% for women with young children and 4.4% for people with disability or health conditions (over the last four years)
» CONCERNS – Inequality in teams – establishing a two-tier workforce in organisations and teams is problematic. Customer-facing, manufacturing and logistics-related workforce employees may feel inferior to those who do have WFH options.
» CONCERNS – Innovation – only 28% of Australian directors believe WFH is good for innovation (Director Sentiment Index Survey by the Australian Institute of Company Directors).
» CONCERNS—Team Building, Leadership & Management—It’s harder to build teams, lead, and manage a workforce remotely.
» CONCERNS – SUCCESSION PLANNING – Proximate human engagement affects hands-on training and mentoring, especially soft skills.
» CONCERNS—PRODUCTIVITY—Only 39% of company directors believe WFH is good for productivity (AICD).
» CONCERNS – LEGAL – RISK & LIABILITY – Injuries whilst WFH can be costly even if the employee is not working. SA case of an injured employee tripping over a rabbit fence whilst taking a break from work in her garden (Lauren Vercoe v Local Government Association Workers Compensation Scheme [2024] SAET 91).
» BENEFITS: 66% of company directors believe WFH is good for staff attraction, retention, and health (AICD).
» FORECAST – 82% of Australian CEOs forecast a full return to office within the next three years – KPMG 2024 CEO Outlook.
