Officeworks survey highlights personal costs of working from home.

 

More than half of the people working off-site due to the COVID-19 pandemic have spent more than $100 of their own money on home office equipment and supplies.

 

The nationwide survey, commissioned by Officeworks, revealed that over a third of those surveyed (35 per cent) are working from home. 

 

Officework’s research showed that one in every two Australians (51 per cent) have been affected financially by the pandemic, with 53 per cent of these suffering a loss of income, 41 per cent facing reduced working hours and 27 per cent admitting to additional financial pressures. 

 

Home workers have made additional purchases needed to work remotely, on items such as technology, home office essentials and home office furniture.  

 

Although most products purchased to assist with working from home have the potential of being tax deductible, less than a third of Australian consumers have indicated that they will be claiming more this financial year. 

 

Officeworks spokesperson Jim Berndelis said: “Tax time can be overwhelming and complicated for some people, made even more evident by only 17 per cent of people surveyed claiming they have a good understanding of the tax period.”