Most Australian employers plan to maintain their current workplace arrangements for the next 12 months, suggesting the post-pandemic office debate has reached equilibrium.
Independent research by Robert Half found 74% of employers don’t plan to adjust the number of days employees work in the office or at home, with hybrid arrangements becoming the strategic standard rather than a temporary fix.
For EAs supporting multiple executives with different location preferences, the figures suggest the complexity of managing hybrid schedules is becoming a permanent part of the role rather than a temporary challenge – but the stabilisation of workplace policies will allow more confident planning for long-term office arrangements and support structures.
Of those planning changes, 14% intend to increase office days while maintaining some work-from-home flexibility and 9% plan to decrease mandated office time. Only 1% expect staff to return to five-day office schedules.
“The period of intense uncertainty and constant change around office mandates has settled for the vast majority of businesses,” says Andrew Brushfield, director at Robert Half. “The predominant choice is a hybrid model, which balances in-person collaboration with the demand for flexible work.”
The research shows 71% of employers will continue hybrid arrangements, citing employee satisfaction (50%) and increased productivity (45%) as key benefits. However, the remaining 29% maintaining five-day office mandates also cite productivity (45%) as their primary reason, highlighting how different organisations define productive work environments.
Employers supporting hybrid work also value employee attraction and retention (both 41%), reduced operational costs (30%) and supporting inclusivity (34%). Those requiring full office attendance prioritise improved communication (39%), stronger company culture (37%), and enhanced collaboration (35%).
