The proposal would give employees the right to request work from home for up to two days a week
The Australian Senate will carry out an inquiry into the proposal that will grant employees the right to request work from home (WFH) for up to two days a week.
The inquiry will hear from a range of stakeholders and gather information to ensure that current workplace rules reflect modern times, according to the Greens, which introduced the bill.
"Flexible working arrangements are an essential feature of our modern workplaces. That's why we've secured a Senate inquiry," said senator Barbara Pocock, Greens spokesperson for workplace relations, jobs and employment.
"The ability to work from home has many benefits, not only for women and carers - it also reduces the time spent on commuting, improves work-life balance, increases mental and physical wellbeing, and boosts workforce participation and productivity."
The inquiry will report its findings by 26 March, 2026.
Proposed WFH policy
Under the Greens' bill, employees will get a statutory right to request work from home for up to two days per week.
Employers will also be mandated to consider reasonable adjustments that could accommodate the request before rejecting them.
"These adjustments may include, for example, holding meetings online, facilitating the use of digital tools for check-ins and team coordination, providing IT equipment and secure access, and establishing reporting methods to support accountability," the proposal read.
The Fair Work Commission will also get the power to review rejected proposals and make binding determinations to resolve disputes conclusively, according to the bill.
Sabrina Scherm, customer success manager at HR system provider HiBob, said the Senate inquiry is a "huge leap forward."
"It signals Australia is finally ready for a serious conversation about modernising how we work. For too long, the debate has been stuck on 'office vs. home,' but this inquiry shifts the focus to where it belongs – and that's equity and performance," Scherm said.
"Ultimately, this inquiry is a chance to move flexibility from being a perk to the minimum standard. It's about empowering employees to do their best work and helping businesses build more resilient and inclusive teams."
Pushback on WFH proposals
The national bill comes as the Victorian government recently introduced a legislation that also aims to enshrine in law the right to work from home at least two days a week.
"The state Labor government in Victoria backs the right to work from home," Pocock said.
"Given that most workers in Australia are covered by federal workplace law, it makes practical sense to ensure this right at the national level. We need a sensible, national approach."
But WFH proposals have been met with strong criticism from employers, who warned of the mandate's impact on workplace culture.
"WFH arrangements should be subject to managerial prerogative at individual workplaces, and not a sweeping legislative imposition that adopts a 'one-size-fits-all' approach," said Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a previous statement.
Pocock noted that they recognise that work from home could not be applied for all jobs.
"While the Greens recognise that working from home is not possible in all roles, workers should have a reasonable right to work from home for up to a couple of days a week where it is practical and possible," she said.
