Statement: Proposed Legislating of Work from Home Arrangements

The recent proposal that work from home arrangements will be enshrined in law is seriously concerning.
The vast majority of Victorians are currently able to negotiate a workable solution that is beneficial to both
employee and employer. Placing these arrangements in legislation removes the autonomy small
businesses rely on to run their businesses effectively. The proposal states reasonable; who is to decide
what is reasonable?
More than 97% of businesses are small businesses; this will impact them disproportionately and
again regional and rural businesses will shoulder more of the brunt. Victoria is already home to an
extensive amount of red tape that makes doing business extremely difficult, and the proposed legislation
could further hinder local enterprise. It creates unnecessary division despite a widespread culture that
allows work-life balance discussions between employers and employees. Regional chambers support an
open dialogue between employers and employees that reflects collaboration, not an additional maze of
legality.
To improve the economy, productivity must be protected, and the proposed legislation privileges select
industries and overlooks others, deterring workers from sectors that fall outside of the bounds, such as
construction, childcare, retail, and hospitality. This is an unfortunate example of over-governance that
further muddles the structure of industry, micro-managing systems that are not under threat whilst
ignoring deeper issues.
Regards,
Jodie Gillett
Chief Executive Officer
Commerce Ballarat