Small business owners raise concerns over work-from-home laws

"It's going to create a two-tier situation where the admin staff have the ability and the right to work from home but the blue-collar workers will have to come in. That will create a divide and would add another layer to our business, making it harder to get things done."

"We are a safe business, we have occupational health and safety standards to ensure we have the signage and equipment to ensure things don't happen. But how can I ensure that happens at home? I can't control that. Yet we're going to be liable for that."

"All businesses will be roped into the policy to legislate a right for employees to work from home two days a week if they reasonably can, with the provision to be enshrined in the Equal Opportunity Act."

Victoria will implement legislation from September 1 allowing employees to work from home two days weekly if reasonably possible, enshrined in the Equal Opportunity Act. Small business owner Menka Michaelides expresses concerns that this creates a two-tier workplace system, dividing administrative staff who can work remotely from blue-collar workers required on-site. She worries about added operational complexity, workplace coordination difficulties, and increased liability for ensuring safe home workspaces. Michaelides questions how businesses can maintain occupational health and safety standards for remote workers while remaining liable for incidents. Premier Jacinta Allan argues the policy benefits workers through cost savings, reduced commuting, and increased workforce participation. The legislation applies only to roles reasonably performable from home, though specific eligibility criteria remain unclear.

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