WFH to end as all NSW public servants ordered back to work

The NSW Premier has spoken out after a government-wide memo to all departments advised working from home privileges had come to an end.

Forcing public servants back into the office will be a boon for commercial property owners in the CBD, with the state government now scrambling to find space for public servants who have been working from home for years.

Government departments offloaded unused office space to save money amid the WFH era will now have to find more real estate for desk-bound bureaucrats.

Premier Chris Minns said that finding room for public servants to work in the office “may be an issue in the next six months,” as departments look to find more floorspace, but said that is a “good problem to have”.

“If the NSW Government has to go and acquire office space in Sydney, CBD or Parramatta, that’s exactly what we’ll do,” he said.

“That’s good for the economy, that’s good for some of the owners and holders of office space in some of our big CBDs.”

An increasing number of empty chairs and tables are evident across Sydney's CBD during weekday lunchtimes. Photo: Tom Parrish

Mr Minns said departments like Planning and Transport for NSW will need to find extra office space.

The Daily Telegraph understands Service NSW also does not have enough room for all its staff to return to the McKell Building in Haymarket.

In a warning to recalcitrant public service agencies who have facilitated full time working from home arrangements, Mr Minns said they would be forced to comply with the new rules, which would see workers come back to the office a minimum of three days per week.

“It’s a mandatory circular. This is from the Premier’s department. This is will apply across the public service in NSW, so I’m confident that we will change it and that we’ll get people back in,” he said.

Earlier, The Daily Telegraph revealed NSW public servants would be ordered to come back to the office from Tuesday after the Minns government sent a government wide memorandum to all departments on Monday, advising working from home privileges had come to an end.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The move to bring all public servants back to the office comes after a Daily Telegraph campaign to get people back into the office after it was revealed businesses across the CBD were struggling to get trade with people working from home. Business leaders have been imploring workers to come back to city, with the CBD almost a dead zone on some days, particularly on Fridays.

The Daily Telegraph understands that some departmental buildings, including the McKell Building in Haymarket, which houses Service NSW, does not have enough space for all its staff to return.

The government-wide advice from the Premier’s department outlined new expectations for public servants to work from an approved office space and are expected to be there every day of the working week.

While the advice does allow for some workplace flexibility in the form of job share arrangements or compressed hours, it is expected work will be principally done in the office.

The advice states that the ability to work from home, which has been in place since 2019 “should not be taken for granted or considered unlimited”.

“The more our experience of work is shared, the more united we become,” the advice states.

“This means being physically present in our organisations.”

Additionally, if a public servant wishes to work from home there will need to be formal approval, with workers to give reasons for the need for hybrid arrangements.

These will need to be reviewed regularly.

A general view of a restaurant with an empty outdoor seating area in the heart of Barangaroo in Sydney CBD during lunch time. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

If public servants wish to conduct work from outside NSW — say, from another state — it would need to be approved by the head of the department.

An email from Secretary of the Premier’s department Simon Draper said the updated guidance for government sector employees requested that the attendance at the office is spread across the entire working week.

“The NSW public sector is the largest workforce in the country,” he wrote.

“All positions play a vital role in delivering services to the community and upholding good government in NSW.”

Public Service Association general secretary Stewart Little, whose union represents a large number of government department including Corrections and child protection services said the union would be closely watching how the new advice in implemented.

“You have to have a degree of flexibility, especially for those with caring responsibilities,” he said.

We’re never going to go back to pre-Covid – you can’t just flick a switch and have people rock up to work – some of the departments don’t even have the physical capacity for all their workers.

“Undoubtedly there will be issues that arise and we’ll have to negotiate.”

Opposition Industrial Relations spokesperson Damien Tudehope called the move “a farce”, saying the government knows they do not have the office space to accommodate all their staff.

“This is typical Minns and NSW Labor – no details, no plan,” he said.

“He’s expecting public servants to catch the unopened Metro to an office that isn’t there.”

BUSINESS RELIEF

Business leaders have welcomed the news, with executive director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou saying the Premier’s decision will help rejuvenate the struggling CBD.

“This is fantastic news and great leadership by the Premier,” he said.

“employers are telling Business Sydney we have to get really serious about getting the CBD back to its pre-Covid footing.

“The city needs more foot traffic hence more workers back to the city to support the hundreds of businesses and enterprises that depend on them.”

“Business Sydney has consistently called for the government to take the lead in ending WFH arrangements – the Premier’s leadership will be a huge encouragement for the private sector in their efforts to bring people back to the workplace.”

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou has been lobbying for workers to come back to the city. Picture: Richard Dobson

Business leaders in western Sydney also celebrated the move, with many government offices situated in the Parramatta CBD.

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger said the changes were a game changer for Parramatta businesses.

“Parramatta Square can accommodate around 20,000 workers but they mostly get around 10,000,” he said.

“We have a light rail about to be turned on – the show is ready, we just need people to turn up.

“Spending your entire life in your pyjamas in front of the computer screen is not good for anyone – it’s good to see government and the public sector leading the way.”

Sydney’s property sector also welcomed the move.

Property council of Australia NSW executive director Katie Stevenson said it would inspire a more vibrant city and encourage more development.

“This mandate is a shot in the arm for the property sector and for a more vibrant city ripe for investment, talent and growth,” she said.

“Our nurses, teachers and police don’t get the chance to work from home – there’s no good reason why other public sector workers should enjoy different conditions.”