NSW government lifts public health order requiring companies to allow work from home

One of the biggest COVID-19 work restrictions has been lifted by the NSW government as the state begins to return to normality.

NSW has reached a major milestone in the recovery from COVID-19 with the state government lifting the public health order requiring companies to allow staff to work from home.

A NSW public health order issued in May required businesses to grant staff the right “to work at the person’s place of residence where it is reasonably practicable to do so”.

From Monday, employees are allowed to return to offices that have a COVID-safe plan in place.

To cope with transport demands, NSW Transport has increased capacity inside trains to 55 per cent, while buses will travel with 45 per cent of their usual passengers and light rail 25 per cent. Ferries will run at 51 per cent capacity.

On its website, the state government encouraged those using public transport to wear a mask.

More people are likely to return to Sydney’s CBD from Monday as the public health order requiring employers to allow staff to work from home is lifted. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

Employers have also been urged to use caution within the workplace, such as staggering staff starting and finishing times.

Katherine O’Regan from the Sydney Business Chamber said the influx of people into Sydney’s CBD would give a much-needed boost to the city’s economy.

“This is a big win for the small businesses in the CBD, particularly cafes, restaurants, bookshops and hairdressers who relied heavily on foot traffic,” Ms O’Regan told NCA NewsWire.

“They have suffered over the past few months. Even at the moment, we are only seeing about 40 per cent of the foot traffic we were seeing before the pandemic, but that will now start to rise.”

Ms O’Regan said Sydney’s CBD would reflect occupational changes around the world, with larger corporations permanently adopting flexible work-from-home arrangements.

But she said it could change Sydney’s economy for the better.

“I think some of the changes forced by COVID-19 will turn Sydney into a 24-hour city,” Ms O’Regan said.

“Rather than a huge influx of people into the city at 8am and out of the city at 6pm, changes in starting and finishing times will have a flow-on effect to small businesses who will see more sustained trade throughout the day.”