Companies weigh permanent shift from homeworking to office return

The pandemic sparked a widespread move to homeworking, with major firms like Google, Facebook and Fujitsu planning to keep a larger share of staff remote. Guidance highlights the need for voluntary arrangements, safe home offices, and attention to gender equity, as women often shoulder additional caregiving duties.

Recent industry data, however, indicates a gradual tilt back toward the office. In 2024 workers averaged 3.43 days in the office per week, rising to 3.64 days in 2025, and surveys suggest more employers plan to increase mandated office days. The trend is reinforced by a “domino effect” where companies follow peers, with Australian states such as Queensland and Victoria showing strong influences on local return‑to‑office policies.