18 June 2026

Statement: Proposed Legislation of Work from Home Arrangements

The legislation set to move forward from September 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027 for small business regarding work from home for Victorians brings a plethora of concerns. 

Many Victorians have been able to successfully make work from home arrangements with their employers that are mutually beneficial. This is shown true with our state already having the highest work-from-home rates in Australia (37% of Regional Victorians already work from home some of the time, according to Roy Morgan). Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black has also noted that mandatory work-from-home legislation is “a solution searching for a problem that’s not there,” reinforcing concerns that these changes are unnecessary and risk disrupting arrangements that are already functioning effectively. 

We are here to advocate for businesses, and this change would add pressure to an already hostile environment regarding lengthy tribunal disputes. And possibly even encourage businesses to move operations outside our state. If things weren’t to change, we would allow businesses to allow autonomy in flexible working arrangement agreements.

Encouraging employees to work from offices supports local businesses – such as cafés, retailers, and service providers – by driving consistent foot traffic and economic activity. Beyond the economic benefit, in-person work environments also foster social connection, collaboration, and routine, all of which are important for supporting positive mental health and reducing isolation among workers. Lastly, considering small businesses make up 97% of Victorian’s business landscape, this legislation could see them not able to open their doors and or slow business growth. 

Regards,

Jodie Gillett