Workers told to get back into offices

NSW public servants have been ordered back to the office.

The largest employer in the country has mandated the move to put bums back in cubicle seats.

“On some occasions, NSW government sector work can productively be done from home,” a directive from the Premier’s Department said.

“However, that is not available to all (staff) in all circumstances and the opportunity to work from home should not be taken for granted or considered unlimited.”

The directive was issued on Monday.

Flexible working arrangements in the public sector have been widespread since 2019 and helped attract and retrain “talented people, particularly people with carer responsibilities and other commitments outside of work”, the directive acknowledges.

As of 2023, more than 450,000 people were employed by the state’s public service in some capacity, though many departments have been looking to trim numbers.

The directive flags the issue of public servants starting their careers not getting the benefits of learning from experienced colleagues face-to-face.

“These outcomes are supported by employees working principally at their approved workplace,” it said.

“The more our experience of work is shared, the more united we become. That means being physically present in our organisations.”

The memo also points to office space, paid for by the public purse, sitting empty.

“Effective use of public assets, including workplaces and offices, requires that they be utilised across the full working week.”

“This circular does not strictly prescribe patterns of attendance … However, the starting position is that work is principally done in an approved workplace in NSW.”

It will be up to each agency to come up with its own policies.

But should a public servant want to work from home regularly, a formal reason and explanation of circumstances is required, and the head of HR needs to know and keep a formal record. Any such working-from-home arrangements should be for a defined period and regularly reviewed, the memo said.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou told The Daily Telegraph that hundreds of businesses in the city that needed foot traffic would be boosted by the directive.