Chris Minns, the New South Wales premier, ordered public employees back to offices by default, emphasizing the importance of physical presence for public institutions and job flexibility through means other than remote work.
The government's decision to reverse remote work norms was influenced by lobbying, possibly from a major newspaper, aiming to boost business and office occupancy rates, sparking debates and opposition.
The directive, impacting over 400,000 staff, reflects a global trend of firms transitioning back to office work post-pandemic, contrasting with remote work support in other Australian states.
While business and real estate groups applauded the move, unions criticized the lack of evidence for the change and vowed to challenge unnecessary mandates.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]