DV Helpline staff question end to WFH in NSW after | Australian Markets

The NSW Department of Criminal Justice can be introduced earlier than the Industrial Relations Commission after home violence and helpline staff pushed back in opposition to a return to work mandate.

The Public Service Association (PSA) raised a dispute with the DCJ relating to the division’s expectation that call-centre staff return to the workplace “principally” or 50 per cent of the time.

The mandate would imply staff, together with these coping with DV victims and little one safety providers, would need to attend the Liverpool or regional workplace for at the very least 50 per cent of their shifts.

The PSA mentioned the coverage got here in response to a round from Premier Chris Minns final 12 months that, whereas not particularly calling for an end to working from home, mentioned it shouldn’t be “taken for granted”.

“The circular does not strictly prescribe patterns of attendance and allows for ad hoc variations for the needs of employees and organisations,” the PSA mentioned in a assertion on Friday morning.

“As per the dispute resolution process, we met with DCJ and asked for feedback as to why they would not consider you for an ad hoc exemption. They have not provided any formal response yet.”

Due to a lack of response, the service staff union is now searching for “the assistance” of the state’s Industrial Relations Commission, with the primary conciliation assembly held on Wednesday.

The PSA mentioned it sought to perceive the “specific operation grounds” the DCJ was utilizing to “deny the ad hoc exemption”, with a additional listening to on June 17.

“Yet there have been no operational requirements provided, other than simply the Premier’s circular,” the PSA mentioned.

“Your delegates and the PSA do not believe there is any valid operational requirement for an increase in office attendance, as the work you perform has been structured around remote working for the past four years or longer.

“You work in the same manner in the office, as you do from home, with the same processes, practices, and structures.”

A gathering between the union and helpline and DV line members is slated for June 2.

An end to Covid-era work-from-home preparations and mandated return to the workplace has been a vital sticking level in each the personal and authorities sectors in current years.

In his round, Mr Minns famous the usefulness of WFH preparations in “attracting and retaining talented people” since 2019 however mentioned there have been “many ways” to obtain versatile work preparations.

Mr Minns mentioned WFH preparations weren’t out there to all authorities workers, and the beginning place is that these staff “work principally in an approved workplace in NSW”.

“Arrangements to work from home on some occasions must take into consideration the wider needs of departments, agencies, the community and stakeholders,” the August round acknowledged.

Mr Minns’ opposition to WFH brought about friction during the election.

The state premier advised reporters during the marketing campaign that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was coping with completely different circumstances in his opposition of the Liberals’ plan to end WFH for public servants.

A report earlier this month discovered staff at NSW Treasury had been in the workplace solely about half the time, or about 2.5 days per week, growing from an average of 1.7 days per week in July 2024.