Work From Home in Victoria: What Could the Proposed Changes Mean for Employers?

The discussion around working from home continues to evolve as employers consider how workplace flexibility fits within their business and people strategies.

For Natasha, one of the key issues is certainty.

With questions being raised about how the proposed Victorian changes interact with existing workplace requirements, businesses may be left uncertain about what the changes could mean for their current policies and working arrangements.

As Natasha explained on Sunrise, this uncertainty can create challenges for business owners who are already managing changing economic and workplace conditions. For employers, the practical question is not simply whether employees should work from home. It is how flexible working arrangements can work effectively within their organisation.

Not Every Role Can Be Done From Home

Working from home is not practical for every role or industry. Nurses, police, hospitality workers, tradies and many other employees need to be physically present to perform their jobs.

However, for roles where working remotely is practical, flexibility can form an important part of the employee experience. The challenge for employers is finding an approach that recognises the different requirements of different roles while still supporting their people and business.

Work From Home and Attracting Talent

Flexible working arrangements can also play a role in recruitment and retention.

As Natasha highlighted during her Sunrise interview, candidates often ask about working from home when considering a new role. For some jobseekers, the availability of flexible or hybrid working can influence whether they decide to apply.

This means employers need to consider how their approach to flexibility affects their ability to attract and retain talent, particularly in roles where remote or hybrid work is possible. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, businesses should consider the nature of the role, operational requirements, team collaboration, productivity, employee expectations and workplace culture.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Work in Victoria?

Victoria’s proposed work-from-home changes are part of a broader conversation about how Australian workplaces are evolving. For employers, the focus should be on developing practical working arrangements that support their people while meeting the needs of the organisation and its customers.

There is no single approach that will work for every business. A flexible working model that works well for one organisation may not be suitable for another. As workplace requirements and employee expectations continue to change, employers should regularly review whether their current approach to flexible working is helping them attract, engage and retain the people they need.

Watch Natasha Hawker’s full Sunrise interview above for her HR perspective on work from home in Victoria and the proposed changes.

Need Support Navigating Workplace Change?

Workplace requirements and employee expectations are constantly changing. For business owners and managers, keeping up with these changes while managing people, performance and business priorities can be challenging.

At Employee Matters, we provide practical HR support to help businesses navigate workplace change, understand what changes may mean for their people and processes, and put effective HR strategies in place.

Need help navigating workplace change? Get in touch with Employee Matters.