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Liberals, companies tread lightly over Allan's work-from-home plan

Liberals, companies tread lightly over Allan's work-from-home plan

Victorian Liberals and major employers are treading lightly on the issue of legal work-from-home protections, following Premier Jacinta Allan's proposal on Saturday to enshrine the out-of-office work arrangements as a right.
Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the state government's announcement was worryingly light on detail when it came to how new legislation would work and whom it would apply to.
He denied the state Liberals were yet to take a strong stance on working-from-home legislation because of the damage done to Peter Dutton's federal election campaign when he publicly opposed hybrid work arrangements for public servants earlier this year.
'It's up to the premier right now to explain exactly what legislation they're going to change and how this is going to be a state issue versus a federal issue,' Battin said.
'But we've said continuously ... the hybrid working model is something that we will be looking at, and I think it gives an opportunity for a fairer work-life balance and continuing the productivity we need here in the state.'
Allan unveiled a proposal at the Labor Party state conference to give employees legal protection to work remotely two days a week, in a move that is being closely watched by the nation's businesses.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet will lead consultation on the path towards putting legal protections around working from home, five years after COVID-19 lockdowns forced employees to work from home.
Policies on the issue have been ad hoc since then, depending on the various industries, companies, and type of work performed. Working from home was back in the spotlight when Dutton was forced into a retreat on the issue during the federal election campaign in April.
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