NSW Government: Country’s largest employer orders workers to return to office

The New South Wales Government has issued a new order requiring government employees to work primarily in offices, reversing its hybrid working policy.

As the nation’s largest employer with more than 400,000 employees, this means a rethink for many workers across the state.

Government workers include office workers, security guards, nurses, healthcare workers and paramedics, teachers and school support staff, social workers, emergency response workers, transportation workers, police officers and prison guards.

“The baseline assumption is that government employees work primarily in an approved workplace in New South Wales,” said a directive from the Secretary of the Premier’s Department issued on Monday.

“Working from home arrangements in some cases need to take into account the wider needs of departments, agencies, communities and stakeholders.”

The directive states that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the current way of working.

However, the department says a “sense of belonging” to organisations and teams is essential.

“The more we share the experience of work, the more united we become. That means being physically present in our organizations.”

Individual agencies will be required to establish their own policies.

Property Council of Australia NSW executive director Katie Stevenson said the decision was a strong and positive step that would bring “more dynamism, investment, business and talent to our cities”.