Victorians could have a legal right to work from home (WFH) two days a week under a new state government plan.
Private and public sector workers would be covered by the right.
Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledged “not everyone can work from home” due to the nature of their workplace, such as nurses and teachers.
Allan added: “If you can do your job from home, we’ll make it your right – because we’re on your side”.
WFH
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows 36% of employees “usually” work from home.
In a statement, the Victorian Government said: “Day after day, unions are being contacted by workers who have been denied reasonable requests to work from home.”
It became a federal election issue when then-Opposition Leader Peter Dutton pushed for all public service workers to commute to the office, a policy pitch that was later overturned.
New right
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A legal right to work a minimum of two days a week remotely would be granted under the state government’s proposed legislation.
This would apply in workplaces where it is “reasonable” that a worker could WFH, according to the state government.
“This life-changing practice isn’t something you or your loved
ones have to politely ask for.
“It’s a right you’ll be entitled to.”
What now?
The Government will now go through consultation before introducing legislation to Parliament.
It will look into issues such as the size of businesses covered by the legislation and the legal definition of “remote working”.
Consultation won’t consider the primary question of whether there should be a right to WFH. The state government said: “We’re already clear on that: it should be. We just need the appropriate laws to reflect it.”
