More office workers to return in New Year

By David Schout

Private companies can welcome back half of their workforce from January 11 in in a boost for local Southbank businesses that rely on their presence.

From the same date, the Victorian public sector can also move to 25 per cent of staff.

The absence of office workers due to COVID-19 has been particularly felt by hospitality and retail businesses, where a busy corporate environment helps stimulate their trade.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the move was welcome heading into Christmas.

“Having half of our city’s private workforce and a quarter of public state government workers back in their offices from 11 January will provide a major boost to our economy,” she said on December 6.

“Each city worker that returns means another coffee bought in our local cafes, an after-work drink in our bars and pubs and extra customers for our retail stores.”

“City workers make up a critical component to our economy and we know that the recovery will take time and will need ongoing support to be sustained.”

In a further boost for hospitality, the Andrews government also announced that from December 7, density limits (of one person per two square metres) would replace across-the-board caps on cafes, restaurants and pubs.

This would allow larger venues to welcome more patrons both inside and outside.

The news followed a pledge from some of Melbourne’s largest employers of returning 70 per cent of their staff when “work from home” guidelines are further lifted.

In a meeting with the City of Melbourne, representatives from entities like ANZ, Metro Trains, PwC, Telstra and NAB vowed to return more than two-thirds of their workforce when safe to do so.

The mass exodus of inner-Melbourne workers and the associated decline in foot traffic since March has crippled many businesses.

Council data from November revealed that spending at restaurants, cafes and pubs in the CBD, for example, was down by 90 per cent compared with February levels.

While the pledge is a targeted number rather than a binding agreement, it represents an indication that big businesses plan to return a majority of their workers back post-pandemic.

Cr Capp said the city needed some form of reassurance for when work from home guidelines were lifted by the state government. But while this predicament meant they were keen for workers to return as soon as possible, she said things would be done safely.

“We of course don’t expect 100 per cent of workers to come back to work on day one; it’s unrealistic and it’s unsafe … [it is] about coordinating staggered days, staggered start times and ensuring an orderly and safe return for workers. It’s in everyone’s best interests to see that happen.”

The next easing of restriction for office workers is due on February 8 when, barring a rise in COVID-19 cases that altered public health advice, the public service would welcome back 50 per cent of staff •