A public sector leader says staff working from home are not “disconnected”.

Natalie James, the former Fair Work Ombudsman and current head of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, has defended the productivity and connection of public servants working from home. 

Addressing concerns raised about the new workplace laws, James emphasised that the department's employees, particularly those within Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke’s purview, remain “highly engaged” with their duties.

James says that approximately 33 per cent of the department's 1,300 staff have formalised arrangements for flexible working, typically operating remotely for an average of 1.9 days weekly. 

She refuted claims of “disconnection” among her team, telling a Senate estimates hearing; “To suggest that my people are disconnected from the office when they are working from home could not be further from the truth”. 

This defence comes after the Labor government passed “right to disconnect” laws in parliament, aiming to delineate work and personal life boundaries by enabling employees to disregard work communications outside of business hours. 

The legislation, set to be enacted mid-year, has sparked a debate, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton promising to rescind these rights, citing productivity concerns and undue influence from trade unions and the Greens.

James’ department statistics indicate a broader embrace of flexible working arrangements compared to the federal public service at large, with 72 per cent of its employees having access to such options. 

This reflects a growing trend towards accommodating diverse working styles, deemed essential by the Australian Public Service Commission for mutual benefit across the bureaucracy.

However, the introduction of the right to disconnect has not been without controversy. 

Senator Michaelia Cash says the implementation has been rushed, and opens the potential for criminal penalties due to drafting errors as points of contention, although the government has moved to correct these oversights.

The discourse around flexible work and the right to disconnect has broader implications for Australia's workplace culture, especially as businesses and political leaders grapple with the post-pandemic landscape's evolving demands. 

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor's has called for systemic changes in education and training, aimed at addressing rapid economic and technological shifts, further highlighting the need for adaptability in both policy and practice.