Despite a recent push by major employers and politicians to force workers to return to the office five days a week, experts say there's growing evidence the hybrid working model is beneficial, and a flexible work culture is here to stay.
Independent workplace expert Caitlin Guilfoyle says the industry is past the point where hybrid working is an experiment and there's been a foundational shift in how Australians want to live and work. There's also been an increase in people leaving workplaces when they're forced back into the office.
According to the Australian HR Institute, last year, 44 per cent of workplaces required office attendance between three to five days a week, which was down from 48 per cent in 2023.
The Productivity Commission found around 35 per cent of workers had jobs that were amenable to working from home.
Worker David Portway says a flexible workplace arrangement allows him to take his kids to school while still making morning meetings. He also takes Thursdays off to care for his elderly mother.
However there are downsides, such as colleagues feeling disconnected and a reduced ability to collaborate. Despite that a survey of human resources leaders found more than 80 per cent say hybrid working will rise or stay the same in the coming two years.
An impending Fair Work Commission case is examining the ability to work from home.
Working from home briefly became an election issue when the Coalition announced they would be forcing public servants in Canberra back to the office, but the plan was abandoned after bad polling.
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