Which Queensland public servants take most WFH days

Despite many bosses ordering workers back to the office, Queensland’s public servants are logging on from home in increasing numbers.

The latest workforce survey shows 54 per cent of the state’s public servants worked from home in 2024, up from 51 per cent a year earlier, and 49 per cent in 2022.

In comparison, about 36 per cent of all working Australians regularly did so from home in 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Premier David Crisafulli confirmed there were no plans to change work from home arrangements in Queensland.Credit: Matt Dennien

Across the Queensland public sector, almost one-in-three remote workers said they did so one day a week on average, 49 per cent did two days at home, and just 3 per cent did five days.

The Department of Energy and Climate had the most staff working remotely, at 86 per cent, with 60 per cent of those out of the office two days a week.

At the Office of the Information Commissioner, every survey respondent worked remotely some of the time, and 42 per cent did so three days a week.

At the Queensland Human Rights Commission, 88 per cent did some work remotely. Of those, 54 per cent did two days a week, and 11 per cent worked out of the office full-time.

Former opposition leader Peter Dutton backed down mid-campaign on his pledge to force federal public servants back to the office amid a politically damaging backlash fuelled by fears it would spill over into the private sector and disproportionately affect women.

There were no plans to upend the status quo in Queensland, with Premier David Crisafulli confirming on April 1 there would be “no changes to arrangements”.

In Queensland, 60 per cent of public servants who worked remotely had a formal arrangement, and a specific day or days they worked from home.

When they came into the office, 64 per cent said they enjoyed catching up with colleagues socially, 56 per cent said it was easier to collaborate face-to-face, and 13 per cent said they only came in because they felt they “must”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns last year ordered all non-frontline public servants to work “principally” from an approved office, workplace or related work site, with most expected to return to at least three days a week.

In Victoria, public servants are expected to work from the office at least three days a week.

Amazon and Tabcorp have insisted on a return to full-time office attendance for all staff, while Woolworths and the Commonwealth Bank expect non-frontline staff to be in the office for two or three days.

A study published in Nature in 2024 found working from home two days a week did not damage employees’ performance or affect promotions, and instead improved job satisfaction and made people less likely to quit.

The latest Working for Queensland survey was held in August and September 2024, before the LNP won the state election.

A Public Sector Commission spokeswoman said flexible work arrangements, including working from home, were a matter for each agency, and approaches could vary across teams, depending on the circumstances of the individual and agency.

More than 71,000 questionnaires were completed, representing 45 per cent of the public service.

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