WORK FROM HOME WORKS FOR FAMILIES IN MACEDON

The Allan Labor Government will make working from home a right – because it works for families in Macedon.

Premier Jacinta Allan today announced the Labor Government will introduce legislation to protect the ability of an employee to work from home.

Under this proposed law, if you can reasonably do your job from home, you will have the right to do so for at least two days a week – public sector or private sector.

Working from home works for families and it’s good for the economy.

It’s popular. Flexible working arrangements are utilized by employees and employers alike, with more than a third of Australian workers – including 60 per cent of professionals – regularly working from home.

It saves families money. It saves Australians on average $110 a week or $5,308 every year. That’s more money back in the pockets of hardworking Victorians at a time when every dollar makes a difference.

It cuts congestion. Victorians are now spending less time commuting, saving more than three hours in their week on average. That’s three fewer hours sitting in traffic and three more hours back in your life.

It gets more people working. Work from home helps more women with children, carers and people with a disability find employment. Workforce participation is almost 4.4 per cent higher than before the pandemic.

It’s good for business. Those who work from home are working nearly 20 per cent more hours than those in the office full time.

It’s clear – work from home has changed millions of lives. Not everyone can work from home, but everyone can benefit.

But right now, work from home is at risk.

Day after day, unions are being contacted by workers who have been denied their reasonable request to work from home.

And across the country, Liberals are drawing up plans to abolish work-from-home and force workers back to the office and back to the past.

That’s why the Allan Labor Government is acting.

Enshrining work from home in law means the practice isn’t something you or your loved ones have to politely ask for.
It’s a right you’ll be entitled to.

To get this law right, the Government will undertake consultation led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Consultation will consider the types of businesses and the size of businesses that that will be covered by this scheme, as well as the definition of remote work.

This consultation process won’t determine whether working from home should be a right.

We’re already clear on that: it should be. We just need the appropriate laws to reflect it.

Following consultation, the Labor Government will introduce and pass this legislation next year, with several legislative options available.

Quotes attributable to Premier Jacinta Allan
“Work from home works for families and it’s good for the economy.”

“Not everyone can work from home, but everyone can benefit.”

“If you can do your job from home, we’ll make it your right – because we’re on your side.”

Quote attributable to Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon
“Work from home saves families money, helps people get back into the workforce – and it even cuts congestion.”

“More than a third of Australians are working from home regularly, including more than 60 per cent of professionals – and the data says they are more productive.”