Kate Elizabeth Windebank’s Post

I don't often comment on politics but the decision of the NSW Premier Chris Minns to enforce a return to office for all public servants is just plain wrong. Not only is this decision gendered - it will impact women more than men owing to family caring responsibilities - but it won't lead to better productivity and will likely reduce productivity. Research shows again and again that the 3:2 model (3 days office, 2 remote) delivers 3-5% better productivity outcomes than office or remote...and better wellbeing outcomes. Victoria has got the policy right. #hybridworking #returntooffice #productivity #wellbeing

Just how quickly are public sector office staff coming back to the office? 👩💼 Survey data on London’s civil servants and local government office workers shows them to be spending less time in the office than either the private sector or their equivalents in other global cities 🌍 Read more in our latest blog from Oscar Selby 👇 https://loom.ly/iXug1EM

More decisions in line with my 2022 research on this topic. NSW govt. rescinds its COVID-era remote working policy. One of my findings was that the long term macro-economic impact of remote work wasn't being properly understood in our collective euphoria over being able to work in our sweatpants. With this new directive, it is clear that permanent, unbridled WFH is unsustainable for a number of reasons, and has quickly become the exception, rather than the norm. It is not about choosing sides; it is about understanding the challenges involved — ranging from economic to cultural — from the employer's viewpoint, something that was missing from our early assessments into the topic. https://lnkd.in/dnEKkcyU Summary of my research: https://lnkd.in/dP5Ye4Kx

It appears that the NSW government has heeded the PCA’s calls for the VIC government to get their workers back to the office 👇😂 Let’s see how this latest mandate actually unfolds. I find it interesting that the article conflates high Sydney CBD office vacancy with low utilisation, and implies that bringing the government workers back will ‘fix’ this almost immediately. There is, of course, a medium to long term link between the two, as low utilisation will lead to less space being leased by occupiers on renewal - the ‘smaller but better’ theme that is being witnessed in most major markets. However, forcing workers back into already leased office space will not immediately reduce the vacancy rate as implied, albeit more CBD footfall will benefit those businesses that rely on office workers for trade. The question is - will the mandate actually have any meaningful impact?? #futureofwork

It will be fascinating to see the impact of this unilateral directive to public service staff - being given 24 hours notice to adjust their office attendance patterns. Some questions/thoughts to be observed; 1. How will staff engagement levels trend - being told they must return; removing automony and flexibility. 2. Making personal flexibility arrangements redundant - and likely disruptive for many with the limited notice. How will employer loyalty fair ? 3. How inspired and innovative will staff be - forced to return to tired - outdated workplaces. 4. A medium term positive impact for city retail - with extra footfall - many vacant retails store should start to lease up. 5. It helps put a floor in the downside for landlords in relation to further vacancy pressure. I’m not sure it moves the dial yet on the supply / demand dynamics presently in favour of tenants.

While noting the lack of data on public servant productivity and the difficulty of meaduring it ( made even harder when a new government renders allbthebproductive output of previous governments "waste," by dunping policy work or outcomes with or without good evidence), the later paragraphs of this article does include a graph and other key points about bad things if you force public servants back to work in the office. I especially like the data on office space costs and the final paragraph. https://lnkd.in/gm-i4gkx

The Home Office spent £28 billion in 2023-24. https://lnkd.in/es2vfA7g We’ve produced an overview of its work to help Parliament and the public understand what taxpayers' money was spent on. Our overview includes information on: • how the Home Office is structured • what the Home Office’s key priorities are • where it spends its money, including information regarding major programmes and staffing arrangements • risks identified through our audits • challenges facing the Home Office this Parliament • where to find more information about the Home Office Read our report 👇 https://lnkd.in/es2vfA7g #HomeOffice

Great news for landlords! Workers are heading back to offices, with Perth and Adelaide leading the charge. Office occupancy in Australia's CBDs is at a promising 76% of pre-COVID levels in Q1 2024, up from 67% last year. Why the boost? > Upgraded offices: Two-thirds of businesses that moved in the past three years upgraded to better-quality buildings, motivating employees to return. > Incentives: Some organisations link pay and promotions to office attendance, enhancing corporate culture and mentorship. > Better commutes: Australia's higher return-to-office rates compared to the US are due to better public transport, shorter commutes and lower crime rates. Stay tuned for more updates on office life after COVID. #GrayJohnson #CommercialRealEstate #MelbournePropertyMarket #PropertyInvestment #OfficeSpace #WorkplaceCulture #OfficeLife #ReturnToOffice #HybridWork #FutureOfWork

Here are my thoughts on the NSW Premier bringing the Public Service back into the office: - Is productively that low (lower than normal) that they had to urgently bring everyone back into the office? - How were they measuring productivity? - If they’re truly wanting to support small businesses in Sydney CBD, what concessions are they putting forward? - Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. What happens to those who bought their Australian dream on the Central Coast or the Hunter because they could work from home? - They want us to have three children to increase our population however both parents have to work to survive in Sydney. So they want more kids with absent tired parents? I don’t see it working. The best employees will leave and find flexible work arrangements elsewhere. #wfh #nswpremier #nswgovernment

Given the moves back to full-time office working for some and the increase in flexible working by others, I found this an interesting read. South Cambridgeshire District Council pilots a four-day week and enjoys faster decision-making, increased staff retention and budget savings with just a couple of factors seeing a minor decrease in performance. Is it time to reopen the wider conversation with the changes in tech, business culture and staffing pressures? https://lnkd.in/e4R3gxK2 #Flexibleworking #hybrid #FourDayWeek