Government departments in New South Wales are in the process of implementing a change that will require public service workers to primarily work from the office for a minimum of three days per week, as directed by NSW Premier Chris Minns. The departments' secretaries acknowledge that employees who relocated during the work-from-home period may need to adjust to comply with the new directive.
The directive issued by Premier Minns has raised questions and discussions about the extent of flexibility that will still be allowed in work arrangements despite the return-to-office mandate. The premier's department secretary, Simon Draper, emphasized that while the work-from-home setup was initially an emergency measure due to the pandemic, flexible work options like job sharing and flexible hours will still be possible moving forward.
Emails sent to NSW Health and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) staff regarding the directive show that each department will be implementing the change at their own pace, allowing for some flexibility in the transition. The email communications from senior public servants within the government emphasize that while the directive encourages work from the office, flexible arrangements will continue to be valued and supported within the government's policies.
Despite the tensions and concerns expressed by some about the implementation of the return-to-office directive, the premier's department assured that all senior officials were aware of the plans and onboard with the changes. While the process of transitioning back to office work will take time and involve adjustments, the government aims to ensure a smooth transition while also considering the need for flexibility to accommodate different work environments and arrangements.