New Victorian Premier Ben Carroll has signalled he will consider amending proposed work-from-home laws, while confirming the two-days-per-week right remains in place.<\/p>\n
Mr Carroll on Thursday said he would consider changes to upcoming legislation that would allow Victorian workers to avoid laws requiring them to work in the office for the two-day minimum.<\/p>\n
\u201cWork from home does work for families, and now it will go through that parliamentary process, and we will consider anything that is sensible,\u201d Mr Carroll said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSensible changes will always come up in any debate, and like any other debate, they will be considered.\u201d<\/p>\n
The premier indicated the proposed laws would still enshrine the right to work-from-home two-days per week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the plan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The proposed laws, introduced by ex-Premier Jacinta Allan, will give workers the right to work from home two days a week if it is reasonable to do so, with pro rata arrangements for part-time or casual workers.<\/p>\n
A worker on probation, apprentices, trainees, interns and staff or graduate programs are excluded.<\/p>\n
The move drew criticism from business groups who were concerned the laws would leave struggling businesses \u201cscrambling\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Victorian Congress of Employer Associations lobbied to \u201coverhaul\u201d the proposed laws, originally due to come into effect in September after moving through the lower house this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proposed commencement timetable is also dangerously compressed,\u201d a congress spokesperson previously said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis would leave employers scrambling to rewrite policies, establish new processes, assess safety obligations, understand cost liabilities, train managers and respond to employee notices under an entirely new legal regime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concerned with dwindling numbers of \u201cemploying businesses\u201d in the state, the group warned the laws would add \u201cunnecessary complexity, cos and uncertainty\u201d to the economy. <\/p>\n
They previously called for a two-day hard limit and more time for businesses to comply.<\/p>\n
Ex-Premier Jacinta Allan introduced the laws as a means to save workers more than $5000 a year, while cutting congestion and commuting times.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that working from home works, it works for families, it works for parents,\u201d she said in June of this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know bosses want to take it away, Liberals want to cut it and Labor wants to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Allan expanded the Bill to include regular casual and part-time workers around the time leadership spill speculation began. <\/p>\n
Following the announcement, her then Deputy Premier Mr Carroll promised not to challenge Ms Allan\u2019s position as premier. <\/p>\n
On Tuesday, it was announced Mr Carroll would take up the top job with Ms Allan resigning from the role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was prepared to put my record and my plan to a ballot of members as our rules allow,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe I would have won but doing so this close to an election takes up valuable resources including the most important one: time.\u201d<\/p>\n