More than 50 per cent of Melbourne CBD workers in the office for two days or less
While more Melburnians are returning to the office, a new survey has revealed the stunning number still working from home.
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Melburnians are still choosing to work from home despite Covid restrictions ending, with more than 55 per cent in the office for two days or less each week and nearly 70 per cent of CBD businesses not expecting them to return full-time.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) recently did a survey of Melbourne CBD-based offices amid continued concerns over the lack of foot traffic and activity in the city.
The results stunningly revealed that 69 per cent of businesses did not expect their employees to return full-time to the office.
It comes as 14 per cent of workers have not returned at all since Covid restrictions were lifted, while 42 per cent are only coming into the office for one or two days a week.
Work-life balance (34 per cent), length of commute (29 per cent) and fears of contracting Covid (15 per cent) were among the main reasons cited for working from home.
Forty-eight per cent of employers said productivity increased when employees were in the office, though the remaining 52 per cent noticed no difference.
In his weekly update, VCCI chief executive Paul Guerra said it was good to see more people returning to the CBD and there are some benefits to working from home.
“What’s encouraging is that people are coming back to the office and embracing the social connection and enhanced collaboration and learning that in-person working offers,” he said.
“As a manager there is good reason for implementing a true hybrid arrangement. It helps staff with work-life balance, enables both females and males to participate in the workforce and it will cut commute times on most days.”
But he expressed concern over the potential mental health impacts working from home could have after 39 per cent of businesses said they had not implemented a required minimum number of days in the office.
“It's important for both a collaboration purpose and mental health purpose that staff do come together in their work environment,” Mr Guerra said.
“It‘s difficult to spot mental health decline from behind a computer screen and the energy we get from other people can help us through some difficult periods. In addition, the acceleration of learning is undeniable in an office-based environment.”
Mr Guerra suggested it might be some time until they fully knew what office numbers would look like, but he encouraged employers to think of other businesses when making their decisions.
“We believe it’s up to individual businesses to determine their working arrangements and it‘s clear this is happening,” he said.
“As you make plans, consider your staff, your work needs and also the impact on the cafes, hairdressers etc that rely on customers to survive as well. The clearer indication we can give those businesses about our movements the better they can plan for their future too.”
Originally published as More than 50 per cent of Melbourne CBD workers in the office for two days or less
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