NSW Premier Chris Minns responds to uncle’s rejection of WFH mandate

NSW Premier Chris Minns has attempted to clear up confusion among staff after his uncle appeared to disregard a new work-from-home order.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has sought to clear up confusion among government staff after his uncle sent an email suggesting workers will not need to follow a newly announced mandate.

On Monday, Mr Minns announced working-from-home privileges introduced in 2019 would be coming to an end, with all public servants now required to return to the office.

But an email sent to NSW Health staff by Mr Minns’ uncle and NSW Ministry of Health deputy secretary of people, culture and governance Phil Minns said working from home arrangements would still be possible.

“Please note the availability of flexible work arrangements are not changed by this circular,” the email said, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Premier Chris Minns announced on Monday that working-from-home arrangements would be scrapped for government staff. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“In line with most contemporary workplaces, we recognise flexible arrangements help attract and retain talented people, particularly with career responsibilities and other commitments outside of work.”

Phil Minns said NSW Health recognised the benefits of flexibility within the workforce and noted that the government’s “starting position” is that work was “principally” done in an approved workplace.

He said the mandate did not set out a “particular pattern of attendance”.

Speaking on 2GB on Wednesday morning, Premier Minns said his uncle may have been referring to work-from-home arrangements that were put in place years prior to the pandemic.

“All I can say is I think Phil is referring to the existing arrangements that have been negotiated between the union and government for decades, so that might be job sharing arrangements, early departure times to pick up the kids, but that’s not related to the Covid measures,” he told Ben Fordham.

The announcement has sparked outrage from public servants. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“The WFH Covid measures and the changes the government announced as of Monday apply to the provisions that were brought in during a health crisis which obviously no longer apply.”

The Premier reiterated that the mandate was “government wide”.

“Ninety-five per cent of the health workforce are actually in hospitals and can’t work from home, but across NSW this needs to be implemented for the public service in the state,” he said.

Mr Minns described his relative as a “good uncle” and a “good man” who was a committed public servant.

The controversial decision to order all staff back to the office has received backlash from government staff who believe the mandate will increase “personal, financial, physical and psychological” burdens on staff.

Posting anonymously to an Australian Public Servants Reddit thread, government staff said the move was “out of touch”.

“I won’t be able to collaborate well or deliver quality work. I won’t be alone in this. I hope they’re braced to lose a lot of talent from NSW public service,” one person said.

“Times have changed. Flexibly working from home (which I might add was forced during covid and never asked to return until now) makes us all so much more productive and happier,” another said.