Victoria’s push to legislate the right to work from home has been bolstered by a survey result showing overwhelming support among employees.
The survey found more than 74 percent of employees (25,724 respondents) considered the right to work from home “extremely” important.
More than 3,200 workers said they felt unable to even ask their employer for flexible arrangements, and of those who had requested remote work, most were refused.
Nearly all described those refusals as unreasonable and said it created further workplace challenges.
The Allan Labor government received 36,770 responses to its statewide consultation—the largest workplace survey in the state’s history.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the scale of the response underlined how significant the issue was for workers.
“The biggest-ever Victorian government survey says work from home works for families and it’s good for the economy,” Allan said. Acting Industrial Relations Minister Harriet Shing added that the feedback showed two days a week—the most common arrangement reported—“gets the balance right.”
Respondents pointed to multiple benefits of remote work.
Saving time emerged as the top advantage, with over 13,300 workers saying their commute took more than an hour each way.
More than 9,200 said they spent between $25 and $49 a week on travel costs, making financial savings another key benefit.
The ability to focus without distractions ranked highly, while productivity gains were repeatedly mentioned. More than 28,700 participants said they achieved more working from home, both in terms of hours and completed tasks.
Most employees also said flexibility would influence career decisions, making them more likely to remain with their current employer or choose one job over another.
Employers Divided on Impact
Employers were included in the survey, though most represented small businesses with fewer than 20 staff. Their responses highlighted the benefits of staff satisfaction, access to a larger talent pool, and improved productivity.
But not all business leaders agree with government intervention. Committee for Melbourne CEO Scott Veenker warned the policy could impose new burdens on companies struggling with rising costs and uncertainty.
“Working from home is a fact and a reality, and one that works for a number of individuals and businesses, for that matter,” he told The Epoch Times.
“They should be arrangements that are done in conjunction with staff and the employers, rather than the state government trying to put their noses into this.”
Veenker added that Victoria risked being seen as “too hard to do business” if new regulations were stacked on top of existing pressures.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed more than 350 businesses closed daily in Victoria in 2024. Meanwhile, the state’s net debt stood at $133.2 billion at the end of the 2024–25 financial year and is forecast to rise to $187.3 billion by 2028.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce also believes that it adds more red tape to local businesses.
