Strathfield Council staff ordered back into office despite Covid-19 lockdown

Workers at a Sydney council fear they must choose between their jobs and obeying health orders after being told to return to their office mid-lockdown.

Office staff at a Sydney council fear they must choose between their jobs or obeying health orders after being told to return to work mid-lockdown, despite the ongoing risk of Covid-19.

Strathfield Council office employees were this week verbally ordered to return to their physical workplace by management, in a move some concerned staff believe is a breach of NSW public health orders.

A whistleblower inside the council has revealed dozens of office staff were advised on Wednesday they must stop working from home, despite the lockdown extension announced later that day.

Commuter traffic at the Strathfield Train Station has dropped since the stay at home order was announced. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

The worker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Daily Telegraph they were “worried” the instructions meant either “breaking the law” or “losing your job”.

“It wasn’t in writing but everyone was informed we had to have at least 50 per cent of staff and every team had to have one representative back in the office,” they said.

“The change wasn’t communicated like it was a choice.”

The worker said they were particularly concerned about Strathfield having a number of Covid-19 exposure sites, meaning staff were at an increased risk of contracting the virus in the local area.

“I think part of the issue is there’s a bit of a grey area in the health order about working from home but if you’re mostly doing computer work there seems to be no reason you would have to work in the office,” they said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has issued an order requiring employers to allow their staff to work from home where possible. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

According to the public health order issued by Health Minister Brad Hazzard, employees should be allowed to work from home where possible.

“An employer must allow an employee to work at the employee’s place of residence if it is reasonably practicable to do so,” the order states.

Asked if staff had recently been ordered to return to the office, a Strathfield Council spokeswoman said the council was “open” and continued to provide “essential services” to the community during the lockdown.

“Council has a large number of staff who cannot acquit their roles from home and are considered essential staff, which include cleansing, waste, public health, works, library, parks, Strathfield Connector Bus, compliance, biosecurity, and customer service teams,” she said.

“Some other office staff are required to have representatives in the office to support these teams.”

The spokeswoman said the council had been “monitoring” the developing Covid-19 situation and sharing information with staff, “especially regarding the Strathfield area and exposure sites.”