Aussies are bracing themselves for a potential shock to their work-life balance.
With major companies like Tab Corp and Amazon already making huge changes to their workplace policies, many are worried that their work-from-home (WFH) privileges could be next on the chopping block.
The Shift Away from WFH: What’s Behind the Trend?
Recruitment expert Graham Wynn believes it’s only a matter of time before the WFH blueprint changes in Australia.
He thinks that WFH is becoming too tricky for bosses and companies to manage, creating a two-tier working system where some employees can work from home while others can’t. This, he says, is a recipe for disaster.
“The biggest issue with work from home is it creates a two-tier working system, even within one company,” Wynn told Yahoo Finance. “If half can work from home and half can’t, that’s just asking for trouble.”
A Wild Workers’ Compensation Case: The Final Straw?
A recent incident involving a City of Charles Sturt employee who tripped and fell over a metal fence while working from home could be the catalyst for the end of WFH rights.
The employee was dog-sitting for a colleague and had installed the fence to keep the puppy away from her pet rabbit. The Tribunal ruled that her injuries arose out of her employment, making her eligible for compensation.
Wynn thinks this case could be the “final straw” for many workplaces. “Companies don’t have the resources to send people to check your home to make sure they’re a safe work environment,” he said.
“That’s the issue now, because even though you’ve got an office set up or you work from your kitchen, it’s now treated as your entire house.”
What’s Happening Overseas?
In the US, changes are already underway. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is reverting back to pre-pandemic regulations for monitoring workplaces, requiring some home offices to be registered and inspected by regulators every three years.
Big players like Citigroup, Barclays, and HSBC have already changed their WFH rules, bringing thousands of staff back to the office full-time.
Aussies Fear the Worst
With millions of Aussies returning to work after the Christmas and New Year break, many are worried about the potential changes to their WFH arrangements. Some have taken to social media to express their concerns, with one saying they’d resign if forced to return to the office full-time. Others are worried about the impact on their mental health and work-life balance.
What’s Next for WFH in Australia?
Wynn predicts that many workplaces won’t try to do a hybrid model of having workers come in one, two, or three days a week. Instead, he thinks it’ll be a full-time return to the office. According to Robert Half, the number of workers required to work from the office full-time grew to two in five last year, with 86% of Aussie companies requiring staff to come into the office at least once a week.
Only time will tell if the WFH privileges Aussies have grown to love will come to an end. But one thing’s for sure – the future of work is uncertain, and employees and employers alike will need to adapt to the changing landscape.