New Zealand orders office return for public servants

The New Zealand government is ordering public servants back to workplaces as it rolls out an updated set of guidelines on working from home.

The guidelines outline the government's expectations on working from home in the public sector, according to Public Service Minister Nicola Willis.

"Working from home is not an entitlement and must be agreed and monitored," Willis said in a statement.

The government's new expectations state that:

• Working from home arrangements are not an entitlement and should be by agreement between the employee and the employer.
• Working from home arrangements should only be agreed to where they will not compromise the performance of employees and agency objectives.
• Agencies must actively monitor the prevalence and impact of working from home agreements and be able to regularly report to the Public Service Commission about the number and nature of the agreements they have in place.

"I have asked the Public Service Commissioner to immediately communicate the government's expectations to public service chief executives and to issue revised guidance about working from home arrangements," Willis said.

According to the minister, there have been many employers taking steps to ensure that their WFH policies are fit for purpose.

"It's time the government did the same," she said.

Benefits of on-site work

Willis announced the new guidance as she underscored the benefits of on-site work.

"It allows for face-to-face conversation, the sharing of skills and experience, and relationship building. It supports younger and newer employees to observe, learn from, and form connections with their more experienced colleagues," the minister said.

She also noted that while carefully defined WFH arrangements can benefit workers and employers, there will also be "downsides" for them if the "pendulum swings too far in favour of working from home."

"That's even before we consider the effects for the CBD retailers, restaurants, and cafes," she said.

Increase in foot traffic expected

Working from home has long been blamed for lower foot traffic in Central Business Districts, particularly in neighbouring Australia, impacting businesses that usually accommodate on-site employees.

Hospitality businesses in New Zealand have also been feeling the pinch amid the rise of WFH, according to Hospitality NZ.

"Our members and other hospitality businesses have reported that Mondays and Fridays, which are the most common work-from-home days for the public service, have seen a big drop in patronage," said Steve Armitage, chief executive of Hospitality NZ, in a statement.

According to Armitage, they support the government's new guidance and look forward to increased foot traffic and patronage as more public servants get back in the office.

"Hospitality businesses will be looking forward to continuing to provide a place for more people to connect with one another as the public service returns to the office more regularly," he said.

The increase in foot traffic is also one of the reasons why the Wellington Chamber of Commerce is welcoming the government's latest announcement.

"Footfall is critical for a number of industries, especially retail and hospitality. These sectors have been struggling with a lack of customers with more Wellingtonians working from home. Many businesses have gone from expecting several days of profitable trading to turning a profit only one day a week," said Wellington Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Arcus in a statement.

Arcus also noted the benefits of on-site work to productivity and team culture.

"It gives junior staff much better opportunities to be mentored by senior colleagues," the CEO said. "The corporate sector has recognised this and has already moved to reduce working from home arrangements. It's pleasing to see the public sector do the same."