CoStar mandates five-day office week for Australian staff

Multinational data company CoStar has announced it will require most of its Australian staff to work from the office five days a week, effective September 21. The policy change affects approximately 800 of the company’s 1,200 employees, moving them from a hybrid model of at least three days in-office to a full-time office requirement.

Domain president Jason Pellegrino stated that the move is intended to improve collaboration, decision-making, and peer learning. While most office-based staff in cities like Sydney and Melbourne must comply, certain roles such as photographers and on-the-road sales representatives will be exempt.

CoStar maintains that flexibility remains part of its culture, offering a formal process for employees to request adjustments for personal circumstances, including options like job-sharing. The company’s decision comes as it faces potential future challenges from proposed legislation in Victoria that could grant employees a statutory right to work from home two days a week.