- Starting point of three days in a primary office location
- Comes as the Property Councils annoucnes its 'Fab Friday' initiative
- Has announced government office hubs in suburban locations
The Victorian Government has announced a revised flexible work policy for the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
Previously in early February office capacity was meant to increase to 75% but plans were shelved due to the Holiday Inn cluster.
The new policy involves a starting position of three days in a primary office location for full-time office-based VPS employees, pending any Chief Health Officer workplace directions.
The Victorian Government says this balances productivity gains and work-life balance achieved by working remotely whilst simultaneously supporting social and economic recovery in Victoria.
The Property Council recently announced it’s Fab Friday’ initiative to draw employees back to the Melbourne CBD.
However, the Victorian Government has added that whilst committed to returning employees to the CBD, they aim to balance this by ensuring the gains local suburban and regional areas have made due to employees working closer to home is not forgone.
The revised policy also supports workers with disabilities, caring responsibilities and those living outside Melbourne’s urban centres.
Currently, there is a $20 million roll-out of five suburban government hubs underway, with a capacity for as many as 2,380 office-based VPS employees working in local areas closer to home.
The first of these five hubs, in Footscray, is currently under operation with hubs in Williams Landing and Mulgrave to be opened by the end of the financial year. Two others will also follow.
The Victorian Government says this will increase economic activity in suburban areas with local traders benefiting from greater foot traffic.
Danny Pearson, the Minister for Government Services, says this will directly help local businesses that service workplaces in CBD, suburban and regional areas.
“Returning to workplaces in greater numbers across the Melbourne CBD, suburbs and regional Victorian locations will provide a critical boost to Victoria’s social and economic recovery.”
“New suburb government hubs will also bring workers into Melbourne’s suburbs, providing support to local economies and for local traders.”
Danny Pearson, Minister for Government Services
