The NSW Premier’s Department has issued a circular to government agencies saying it’s time for government employees to return to the office.

The circular, issued on Monday, says agencies are expected to have flexible work polices that meet the ‘reasonable requests’ of employees.

However, “the default arrangement is to work principally in an approved workplace, office or related site.”

Employees wanting to work from home on a regular basis will need to provide reasons and and get formal approval and agreement from agency heads, and all such arrangements must be recorded.

Work from home approvals should also be for a defined period and regularly reviewed, the circular says.

Individual agencies will be responsible for designing and monitoring their own policies.

The opportunity to work from home should not be taken for granted or considered unlimited

NSW Premiers Department

Flexible workplace arrangements became widespread in the public sector after Covid-19 caused disruption across the economy,  and they have become a carrot to attract quality employees with carer and other out-of work commitments.

But the opportunity to work from home shouldn’t be taken for granted, the circular says.

“On some occasions, NSW government sector work can productively be done from home. However, that is not available to all government sector employees in all circumstances and the opportunity to work from home should not be taken for granted or considered unlimited,” it says.

“The starting position is that government sector employees work principally in an approved workplace in NSW. Arrangements to work from home on some occasions must take into consideration the wider needs of departments, agencies, the community and stakeholders.”

The circular also notes that the effective use of public work assets including offices and other workplaces means they need to be used across the week.

“The goal in every workplace should be to achieve an even spread across the working week and fully utilise the available accommodation,” the circular says.

The NSW public sector union says about 70 per cent of the state’s public sector workforce, including frontline workers, are already back in the workplace.

The union is talking with members about how to respond to the directive, a PSA spokesperson told Government News.

In a bulletin to members the PSA said it has always fought for flexible working arrangements.

“This includes, where possible, working from home for those whose roles do not rely on them attending a specific site,” it said.

“Any PSA member with issues in flexible working arrangements, including working from home, will receive support from their union.”