Huge work from home deal about to be struck: What it means for you

By MATT JONES and STEPHEN JOHNSON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 04:10 BST, 10 June 2025 | Updated: 05:33 BST, 10 June 2025

Millions of workers could soon be allowed to work from home hassle-free as a growing number of bosses accept hybrid working arrangements are here to stay. 

Since August, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has been reviewing the Clerks Award – which sets out the minimum legal entitlements for those in clerical and office jobs – to see if it is still relevant since the vast increase in WFH arrangements post Covid lockdowns.

The FWC will hear from employers and unions to codify new legal standards for workers who spend at least half their work week at home.  

Innes Willox, the chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, said the award was being updated to fit ‘modern day reality’ as working habits changed. 

‘Essentially, since Covid, we’ve had a work from home free-for-all which is now starting to get more structure and shape around it,’ he said. 

‘The industrial relations (IR) system is not set up for work from home or flexible work. The award system is set up around nine to five work, basically.’

It’s predicted the review will result in a clause to ‘remove any existing impediments’ to WFH and that the award will be used as a model for others. 

Unions want their members to earn the ‘right to request’ WFH days. Currently, employers can reject requests on reasonable business grounds. 

Millions of workers could soon be allowed to work from home hassle-free as a growing number of bosses accept flexible working arrangements are here to stay (pictured, Sydney workers)

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is currently reviewing the Clerks Award to test its relevance for work in post Covid workplaces (pictured, office workers on a lunch break in Sydney)

Some employers have argued a ‘free-for-all’ attitude towards WFH since the pandemic has reduced productivity. 

Critics also say connections are lost in workplaces if employees are at home and that mentorship and leadership are more difficult. 

But a landmark government report recently found working from home is actually more productive than going into the office – in moderation.

‘Allowing workers to work from home some days can improve worker satisfaction and allows people to benefit by avoiding the commute to work, meaning they have additional time for other purposes,’ the Productivity Commission said. 

Working from home has proven particularly popular with women, who can save on childcare costs and complete other tasks in the hours they usually spend commuting.

A hybrid model, mixing work from home and the office, was seen as the best approach to encourage creative interactions.

‘Workers do not need to be in the office full-time to experience the benefits of in-person interactions,’ it said.

‘As a result, hybrid work (working some days remotely and some days in the office) tends to be beneficial to productivity, or at least, is not detrimental to productivity.’

It comes after a landmark government report recently found working from home is actually more productive than going into the office – in moderation (pictured, office workers in Sydney)

The Productivity Commission, however, said in-person interactions were more likely to spark initial breakthroughs.

‘A key reason for this is that in-person interactions may be better for collaborative tasks and idea generation,’ it said.

‘Experimental evidence from engineering firms indicates that idea generation benefits from in-person interactions but in-person and virtual teams were equally effective in evaluating and selecting ideas that have already been developed.’

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Huge work from home deal about to be struck: What it means for you

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