The commission wants unions and businesses to weigh in on working from home as it examines ways to improve conditions for people with caring responsibilities,while corporations attempt to reverse the office drain by requiring employees to return to the workplace.
“For some,the increase in opportunities to work remotely has expanded employment opportunities,reduced time spent commuting and provided more flexibility to balance work and caring responsibilities,” says a commission paper published last month,adding that remote working did have some drawbacks,namely a lack of opportunities to collaborate,get mentoring or disconnect properly at the end of the workday.
Burke called on the commission in September to review modern awards,which contain industry-specific pay and conditions,by taking into account factors such as job security and a Greens-led Senate inquiry into work and care.
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That Senate report was also the basis for this month’s controversialright-to-disconnect laws,which give workers to right to ignore their bosses’ calls and texts after hours. While that reform was created through legislation,the Fair Work Commission has the power to bolster workplace conditions by varying industrial awards,without requiring new laws.
Comment has been sought from Burke,who did not specifically call for the commission to examine work-from-home rights in modern awards,but awaits the findings with great interest.
Opposition industrial relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash urged the government to focus on increasing productivity rather than creating rigid workplace rules.