State Government calls time on Queensland bureaucrats working from home

The State Government has ordered thousands of Queensland’s public servants back to their offices, declaring the “new COVID-19 normal” meant there was no longer a need to work from home.

Thousands of Queensland bureaucrats have been ordered back to their offices with the state government calling time on ‘working from home’ for employees.

Despite limited community transmission of COVID-19 in the state this year, more than 11,000 public servants continue to work from home on a full-time basis.

Frontline workers have been forced back into full-time work since last year.

Public Service Commissioner Rob Setter issued the directive saying the state had moved “towards a new COVID-19 normal”.

“Queensland Health issued advice that Queensland has done such a remarkable job in responding to COVID-19 that everyone can feel safe at work,” he said in a letter to staff.

About 11,000 of Queensland’s public servants have been ordered to return to their offices after working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Picture: David Clark

The final 11,000 state bureaucrats, 5 per cent of the sector, who have been working remotely are now encouraged to “increase presence in their usual workplace”.

Public Service Commissioner Rob Setter said the mid-April directive came after restrictions were eased across Queensland and the state moves ”towards a new COVID-19 normal”.

“As Queensland continues to ease restrictions as we all move towards a new COVID-19 normal, Queensland public servants who have been working remotely are now encouraged to increase presence in their usual workplace.”

Mr Setter said the majority of public servants worked in frontline or frontline support roles and were already working from the office.

According to the most recent State of the Sector report from 2018, about 81,000 public servants work in the Brisbane region.

Despite the directive, Mr Setter said the State Government “remains committed” to offering a flexible work arrangement for employees.

It is estimated about 65 per cent of private-sector employees are working full-time in CBD offices, well below pre-COVID-19 levels.

Committee for Brisbane CEO Barton Green said the move would help invigorate the CBD, which is slowly recovering from last year’s months-long lockdown.

“Any opportunity to bring people back into the CBD should be greatly applauded,” he said.

“We’ve been trying to encourage members to get their staff back into the CBD and this is a huge boost.”

Mr Green said the lack of workers had significantly affected food and entertainment retailers across the city.

A 2020 Inner City Vitality Report, commissioned by the Committee For Brisbane, found the CBD had fallen in all five key economic indicators – commercial and residential vacancies, tourism, retail and education.

About 122,438 workers are employed in the CBD, according to the 2016 Census, however, that number is tipped to grow to 218,000 by 2041.