2-Day Work-From-Home Proposal Draws Record 18,000 Responses

Jacinta Allan is preparing to legislate work from home ahead of the Victorian election in November 2026.

Claudia K/Shutterstock

A record 18,000 Victorians have responded to a government call for opinions on their controversial work from home legislation.

The plan to enshrine working from home into law has received backlash from businesses arguing they should have their own autonomy over their employees.

However, Premier Jacinta Allan hailed the success of a work from home survey in a post to X on Sept. 2.

“We’ve had 18,000 Victorians fill out our work from home survey—making it our biggest ever,” she said. 

“And there’s still time to have your say on making work from home a right.”

Labor previously said the consultation was not about whether working from home should be a right, as it already believed it should be.

“We just need the appropriate laws to reflect it,” it said.

Victorians will be able to share their views on the proposed laws until Sept. 28.

“The Victorian government wants to hear from employees and businesses to ensure the proposed laws reflect the real-world experience of working from home, including what’s fair, what’s practical, and what’s already working in many workplaces,” the Engage Victoria website states.

How Will Work From Home Legislation Work?

Any individual in Victoria who can reasonably do their job at home will have the right to do so at least two days per week, if the legislation passes parliament. This will apply to both the public and private sectors.

The Victorian government plans to introduce the legislation into parliament in 2026.

Industrial Relations Minister Jaclyn Symes said in August that working from home saves families money, allows more people to join the workforce, and also cuts traffic congestion.

“More than a third of Australians are working from home regularly, including more than 60 percent of professionals—and the data says they are more productive, benefiting businesses and the economy,” she said.

Allan argued that working from home benefited families and was good for the economy.

“Not everyone can work from home, but everyone can benefit. If you can do your job from home, we’ll make it your right—because we’re on your side,” she said.

Victorian Opposition leader Brad Battin has offered support for the legislation, but will first look at the finer details of the legislation.

“The Victorian Liberals and Nationals recognise that working from home has become a valuable option for many workers and families,” Battin said on Aug. 4. 

“We support measures that help Victorians enjoy a better work-life balance, and will review any legislation closely, to ensure it supports flexibility, productivity, and personal choice.”

Businesses Opposed to the Plan

Square Peg co-founder Paul Bassat said on LinkedIn, “a mandate is a terrible idea.”

Bassat said that while a more flexible approach to work from home has become a key feature of a post-COVID world, it was ultimately a matter between employers and employees.

“Leave aside the impact on productivity after our worst decade of productivity growth in 60 years and leave aside how unfair this is for employees who can’t work from home, when did we become a society that is obsessed with mandating just about every activity,” he said.

“It is time for people to tell government that they are sick and tired of them interfering in everything and depriving people of agency.”

Committee for Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Veenker also said work from home should be left to the private sector.

“Victorian employers and employees have successfully embraced working from home and flexible work arrangements that enable them to strike the right balance between getting the job done and empowering their teams to balance work with personal life,” Veenker said.

Veenker said the government should leave those in the private sector to run their businesses without more regulation and red tape.

The work from home push comes ahead of a state election in Victoria, scheduled for November 2026.

Work from home was an election issue during the recent federal campaign, after the Coalition called for Commonwealth public servants to come back to the office five days a week, only to later backtrack.