Victoria set to legislate two days’ working from home
The Allan Labor Government will introduce legislation conferring a statutory entitlement for eligible employees in Victoria to perform work from home for two days per week.
The new laws would take effect from 1 September 2026, with a deferred commencement for small business employers from 1 July 2027.
Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed that the Bill will be introduced into Parliament in July.
The proposed reforms would amend the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) to enshrine the right within Victoria’s anti-discrimination framework.
The proposed legislation would establish a dispute resolution mechanism in circumstances where an employer refuses a work-from-home request. In the first instance, disputes would be referred to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for conciliation. Should conciliation fail to resolve a working from home dispute, proceedings could then be brought before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination.
According to the Government, the proposal followed extensive consultation, including a state-wide survey which attracted 37,485 responses. Premier Allan previously articulated the Government’s intention to legislate work from home rights at the ALP State Conference last year.
If enacted, the controversial amendments will establish a presumptive right to remote work in Victoria where the inherent requirements of the position reasonably permit such an arrangement, subject to the statutory dispute resolution framework.
Source: Lexology
