Public service union supports permanent hybrid workforce.

 

A new study conducted by UNSW Canberra and CQUniversity, with support from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), demonstrated that while managers are becoming increasingly supportive of flexible working arrangements, managers and employees have different perceptions of employee productivity when work is done remotely.

 

“Almost three in five employees stated that their productivity was higher when working from home than in the office,” lead author, UNSW Canberra associate professor Sue Williamson, said.

 

“Conversely, two thirds of managers thought that productivity remained the same whether the work was conducted at home or in the office. At the very least, respondents believed that productivity was being maintained throughout 2021, she said.”

 

Williamson said more than one third of employees would like to work from home all the time or for 80 per cent of their working week. Fewer than 10 per cent of employees want to spend all their working hours in their employers’ workplace.

 

“It will be important for managers and organisations to work out optimum hybrid working arrangements – the amount of time employees can work from home, how tasks are distributed and workloads managed with hybrid teams,” she said.

 

CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly added: “The Australia Public Service has delivered for the community throughout the pandemic, and have shown they can do that whether they are working from the office or home. It is clear that the APS has to embrace hybrid working if they wish to attract and retain the best staff,” 

 

PHOTO: NAB