As COVID-19 restrictions around the country were scrapped this year, many Australian employers told staff it was time to return to the office.

However, that was not the case with Neha Dahiya's workplace.

Instead, employees at the accountancy and financial services firm she works for have been told they can maintain their flexible working arrangements.

For Ms Dahiya, being able to work form home when she chooses means avoiding long daily commutes and saving money on before and after school care for her son.

“I'm a single mum and my kid started prep this year, so it allows for me to spend that extra bit of time to go to school commitments," Ms Dahiya says.

“I drop my kid off to school, because it's like a five-minute walk from here," Ms Dahiya says.

“And then I walk back and I'm at work straight away and I usually start at 9.05am, then I can just go pick him up during the work hours and then do more work."

If she needs to make up any time outside of her allowed meal breaks, she works at night.

Making a request to WFH is about to get easier

When the Australian Bureau of Statistics held its census in August last year, 40 per cent of employed people were regularly working from home.

That's up from 30 per cent before the pandemic.

However, data from the Property Council of Australia has found more workers are returning to the office after COVID-19 lockdowns during 2020 and 2021 when people were used to working from home.

Melbourne’s office occupancy rates jumped 12 per cent, to...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuY...