Work from home Victoria: Jacinta Allan weighs carve-out for small business
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'That's a terrific example of how undertaking the consultation is about getting this right,' she said. 'It's about hearing from both businesses and also from workers about their real-world experience.
'We know not everyone wants to work from home. There are many who want to be in the office. This legislation is about protection for those who can, for those who need to.'
The most reliable national data on working from home, gathered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, is that 36.3 per cent of people usually work from home – a figure that appears to have stabilised to a post-pandemic normal.
Victorian public service employees are entitled to work from home two days a week, but Treasurer Jaclyn Symes confirmed that the real rate of such work was most likely higher.
'Anecdotally, whether that is being complied with strictly is probably questionable,' she said.
'It is certainly our expectation that staff are in the office three days a week. That's certainly happening in my office, and I know it's happening in many workplaces, but I can't confirm it's happening across the board.
'That's something that I think these conversations will help generate.'
The government's online survey, which asks respondents how many days they work from home, their reasons for doing so and the benefits and disadvantaged associated with it, will provide a more detailed snapshot of working-from-home practices in Victoria.
Politically, the Allan government is convinced that its work-from-home pledge is a winner. During question time on Tuesday, the government used its entire allotment of ministerial statements – Victoria's version of Dorothy Dixer questions – to spruik the benefits of working from home.
While reported productivity gains of work-from-home are more pronounced for individual workers than the companies that employ them, Allan said increased participation of women in the labour market was one of the clear benefits of more flexible workplaces.
'It broadens the talent pool that employers can draw on for their workplaces,' she said. 'We know that balancing family responsibilities is a significant barrier, particularly for women to enter the workplace.
'At a time when we have skill shortages, at a time when that is a real constraint on our economy, getting more people into the workforce is good for the economy, it's good for those businesses and it's great for the individuals who feel that they are making a meaningful, productive contribution to society.'
The online survey, results of which will be published in anonymised form, is open until September 28.
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