'If you want to really work from home, every single person's job is at risk of being outsourced overseas'
The chief executive officer of Canberra Airport warned employees that their roles are at risk of getting outsourced overseas amid the continued prevalence of remote work, according to reports.
Stephen Byron dropped the "truth" when asked during an ACT Property Council breakfast about how organisations could bring employees back onsite.
"The truth is, if you want to really work from home, every single person's job is at risk of being outsourced overseas," he said as quoted by Riotact.
"We are distorting our workplace and our professions with this work-from-home policy."
According to the CEO, working from home amounted to isolationism, where employees aren't part of teams and culture, and employers are not providing an environment for learning and mentoring.
"We're tribal as people, we work better in teams, we work better collaboratively, we understand what we're trying to achieve," Byron said.
The CEO's remarks echo sentiments from industry players who reveal that the rise of remote work arrangements has impacted outsourcing strategies.
Employment agency Karma Staff revealed that remote work allowed outsourcing strategies to access a wider talent pool, as geographical barriers get blurred because of remote work.
"With this shift, organisations can tap into a global talent pool, expanding their reach beyond traditional boundaries," Karma Staff said on its website.
"By considering outsourcing to professionals from anywhere in the world, companies can access a diverse range of skill sets and expertise, opening exciting new avenues for growth and development."
Despite this benefit, however, many employers in Australia are joining the wave in onsite work.
Organisations such as Woolworths, Coles, Amazon, and Tabcorp have been announcing strategies to invite employees onsite.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also found that only 36% of Australian employees are regularly working from home in 2024, a slight decrease from 37% from the previous year.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Firms implementing onsite return have been citing the benefit of collaboration, but there is also growing pressure from other Australian firms to introduce office return to revive foot traffic in central business districts.
The latest Office Report from the Property Council of Australia revealed that the office vacancy rate remained steady in the last six months in Australia.
Vacancies are an indication of the utilisation of Australian offices, which are affected when work-from-home policies are in effect.
The Office Market Report showed Australia's central business district (CBD) office vacancy slightly increased to 13.7% over the last six months to January 2025 due to increased supply and despite positive demand in four capitals.
In Canberra, the office vacancy rate is at 9.2%, down from the previous 9.5%, and is one of the best-performing capital city markets.
"Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra saw positive demand for office space above their historical averages in the last six months," said Property Council Chief Executive Mike Zorbas in a statement.
"High levels of supply show that businesses still call our CBDs home as they balance flexible working arrangements with face-to-face contact in the office."
Ultimately, employers implementing an office-return policy should remember that not all employees will be pleased with onsite comebacks.
Andrew Brushfield, Director at Robert Half, warned that such policies can lead to resentment and disengagement in the workforce.
"Even with staff coming to terms with attending the office more frequently, the key for employers is to create an environment that highlights the positives of in-office work and sparks joy, not dread," he said.
