Per Capita welcomes the Bill’s recognition that many roles can be performed effectively from home.
Enabling employees to access flexible working arrangements improves retention, reduces absenteeism and enables greater workforce participation, particularly for workers with caring responsibilities, older workers, people with disability and those living in regional areas. For these reasons, Per Capita supports the intent of the Bill to enshrine a minimum right to work from home for two days per week.
It is acknowledged, however, that there are roles and circumstances in which work cannot reasonably be performed satisfactorily from home. In such cases, it is important that there are clear and appropriate grounds for refusal.
We believe balancing a minimum right to work from home with appropriate safeguards for employers is appropriate. The proposed amendments have the potential to improve workforce participation, productivity and job quality across the economy.