What you said about Steven Miles declaring government workers don’t need to return to office
To work from home or to not work from home – that is the question that has divided many Queenslanders ever since the Covid bubble burst. HAVE YOUR SAY
Opinion
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To work from home or to not work from home – that is the question that has divided many Queenslanders ever since the Covid bubble burst.
Premier Steven Miles’ declaration that public servants won’t be ordered back into the office dismissed any notion of following a controversial New South Wales edict.
Mr Miles said it was the state’s strong economy and comparatively healthy Brisbane CBD which allowed Queensland to stand apart, but the latest budget also underlines why flexible arrangements need to stay in the Sunshine State.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, in a controversial edict, advised working from home privileges had come to an end and all public servants needed to come back into the office.
Any working from home arrangements would then need to go through a fresh approval process.
But Mr Miles said there were no such plans in Queensland.
“I don’t have any plans at this stage to change the current arrangements,” he said.
“I understand New South Wales is in a somewhat different position to Queensland. Our economy continues to be strong. Our CBD has come back more strongly.”
The government is also trying to save money on office space, as outlined in Treasurer Cameron Dick’s latest budget.
The latest government survey of public servants found 51 per cent had working from home arrangements.
News of Mr Miles’ stance extracted strong responses from readers.
Many pointed to another Labor mess, while others said the WFH issue simply comes down to productivity.
“People walk around distracting others and taking breaks, coffee, wandering the city,” Neil wrote.
However Muso argued for working from home: “Good, more productive and less congestion.”
See what you had to say below and join the conversation >>>
WHAT YOU SAID
Get back to the office!
Neil
Productivity is less when working in an office. People walk around distracting others and taking breaks, coffee, wandering the city. At home they have less interruptions and get more work done.
Charmaine
They were ineffective when in an office - surely they are worse working from home. Generally Government workers would not know what real work was like
Andrew
What rubbish, productivity has reduced and the Government has no focus on maintaining service levels.
Joycelyn
If I was to WFH who’s going to pay for my internet coverage usage and additional electricity plus of course the equipment I would need exactly the same from my office environment? If also, I return to my office for two days a week what equipment would I use or would I have to bring my WFH equipment all the way to the city?
WFH is fine
Kazzamays
I’m a Farmer working from home obviously home is our business but it’s the lifestyle and you can achieve so much more being semi alone it’s very productive, healthy and the outlook. Let our state employees continue to work from home maybe offer a move to the country
Lana
Why can’t I work from home Only for the privileged
Muso
Good, more productive and less congestion.
I have an idea
Annette
Get more staff to work from home if they can and their role does not require them to be onsite to free up hospital prime real estate making room for more beds particularly in regional ares.
Oh no not again
If you WFH full time AI will soon be faster, better and cheaper than a human, find a job machines can’t do and you’re set for life.
Michelle
Getting them to produce work first would be good. If productivity is low in the office, it’s also low at home. The issue is leadership and also team building.
There are big issues
Timothy
So the government is saving money by outsourcing office space costs to the staff. Better to have empty offices in a housing crisis than spare bedrooms I always say!
Vortigern
So 51% are working from home eh? I’ll bet front line workers like hospital staff, police, and ambos who have to pay to get to and from work will be so pleased for them.
David T
What do you mean back to work! Sadly many of them do not know how to work, much like the laboUr greens and unionists.
Labor’s latest mess
Bill
Only one thing is 100% certain ‐ Miĺes’s decision on this will be based purely and surely on how many votes he needs on this issue to get him over the line on polling day
Fred
Miles is just a union hack and will endorse whatever it wants
hot air
Well I never knew that the State had a CBD. I thought each City and Town had a CBD but Obviously Giggles is only thinking of Brisbane by his statement. Just proves he is only worried by the south east corner of the State. Silly me here I was thinking that he was trying to help the whole State.
Dave
Miles is so out of touch that he wouldn’t know what day of the week it is, not alone having a plan or any bloody idea what he is doing.
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