Working from home back again
Employers battle Covid wave
AUSTRALIA’S biggest companies are launching new pandemic measures – including reintroducing working from home and mask wearing – as they combat a fresh wave of rising Covid-19 infections.
Businesses are introducing their own rules in the absence of government orders, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it was up to companies to “get the balance right” on working arrangements.
Telstra and Westpac are advocating remote working where possible while others, such as NAB, are instead urging mask wearing indoors and social distancing to avoid the effective return of lockdowns and gutting of capital city CBDs.
Telstra group executive, transformation, communications and people, Alexandra Badenoch on Thursday urged staff to work from home if they could. “With the rise in Covid case numbers and changing health advice, we have updated our people on how they can stay Covid-safe. We are strongly encouraging our people to work from home if they can, wear a mask when they can’t socially distance, and get their booster shot if they’re eligible,” she said. “We continue to monitor the situation and assess the health advice, and will adjust this guidance if we need to so we can help keep our people and customers safe.”
A Westpac spokesman said the bank had introduced a rating system, which was currently advising staff to avoid the office. “Westpac’s workplace setting is currently amber, meaning some employees who can work from home may do so, with no requirement to be in the office. This is a temporary measure and employees are still welcome to attend the office if they prefer,” he said.
Meanwhile, NAB is “strongly recommending” staff wear masks in doors to curb the spread and is continuing to practice hybrid working arrangements, involving employees coming to the office several days a week.
“With rising case numbers of Covid and influenza in the community, we’re strongly recommending all colleagues wear a face mask indoors. This includes inside our branches (back and front of house), Business Banking Centres (BBC) and offices.”
Incitec Pivot chief executive Jeanne Johns this week said it “would be a shame to go backwards”, when asked at a forum about the possibility of governments “shutting down” business operations again. “I think the world’s moved on. I just went around the world… and most people are finding ways to work through it,” she said.
She said the company had shifted a conference of its top 100 leaders from in-person to online. Australia’s biggest health insurer Medibank has also rescheduled large staff gatherings and flexibility.
“Our offices remain open however large gatherings and events will be rescheduled to later in the year and we’ve asked our people to wear face masks where they can’t socially distance and in meeting rooms with other people,” a Medibank spokeswoman said.