A growing number of Australian employers are mandating a full return to the office, signalling a shift away from the remote work arrangements that became common during the pandemic.
News reports that businesses across the country are increasingly aligning their policies with industry trends, reinforcing the expectation of in-person attendance.
A new survey by recruitment firm Robert Half suggests that the trend is accelerating, with a rising percentage of employers requiring in-person attendance five days a week.
Some workers are resisting the change, with salary demands and lifestyle concerns playing a key role in the ongoing debate.
Increasing Return-To-Office Mandates
According to the survey, 39% of businesses will require employees to be in the office five days a week in 2025, a 3% increase from the previous year. The average number of required office days has also climbed from 3.43 to 3.64.
The push for full in-office attendance is particularly noticeable among medium and large enterprises, with some executives citing a “domino effect” as companies follow their industry peers in tightening remote work policies.
The breakdown of required in-office days among Australian employers in 2025 is as follows:
- 5 days a week: 39% (up from 36% in 2024)
- 4 days a week: 22%
- 3 days a week: 20%
- 2 days a week: 8% (down from 13% in 2024)
- 1 day a week: 4% (unchanged from 2024)
- Fully remote: 7% (down from 9% in 2024)
Nicole Gorton, a director at Robert Half, noted that while larger corporations are driving the shift, smaller businesses are using flexible work policies to attract talent.
Many smaller firms, unable to compete with the salaries of large organisations, offer one or two office days per week or even fully remote options to differentiate themselves.
Declining Remote Work Opportunities
While hybrid work remains common, the number of employers allowing just two office days per week has seen the biggest decline, falling from 13% in 2024 to 8% in 2025.
The survey also found that 84% of respondents were influenced by other companies’ decisions to bring workers back in person. Additionally, 63% of Australian employers reported a decline in employee resistance to these policies compared to five years ago.
Worker Reactions and Salary Demands
Despite the increasing return-to-office mandates, some employees remain reluctant. While 28% of employers reported no change in attitudes towards returning to the office, 9% noted increased resistance.
The strongest opposition has come from workers in Victoria, where 13% of businesses said employees have become more resistant to in-office requirements. In New South Wales, this figure was 12%, followed by 10% in Western Australia and just 2% in Queensland.
Some employees have linked their willingness to return to the office with salary increases, with requests for raises of up to 20% in exchange for in-person attendance. However, most Australian employers have refused to grant immediate pay increases, instead stating that salaries will be reviewed through the normal process.
Gorton pointed out that some employees are unwilling to sacrifice their commuting time, work-life balance, and flexibility unless employers make it financially worthwhile. Others, particularly those in senior positions, feel they can perform their duties remotely and are not looking for career advancement.
Impact on Career Progression and Office Logistics
While many workers enjoyed the flexibility of remote work, some Australian employers argue that being in the office is essential for career growth and professional development. Gorton pointed out that “learning is caught, not taught,” and that those who want to advance their careers are recognising the benefits of working in-office.
However, the transition back to the office is not always seamless. Some businesses that downsized office spaces during the pandemic now face overcrowding issues, with employees struggling to find available desks despite being required to return.
High-Profile Opposition to Remote Work
The return-to-office debate is not limited to Australia. In the United States, former President Donald Trump made one of his first official acts upon taking office in January 2025 an executive order requiring federal employees to return to the office full-time.
“I happen to be a believer that you have to go to work,” Trump said. “I don’t think you can work from home. Nobody’s going to work from home. They’re going to be going out, they’re going to play tennis, they’re going to play golf. They’re going to do a lot of things—they’re not working.”
In the corporate sector, JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon recently criticised remote work culture, stating that young professionals often send texts and check emails while “on the fking Zoom” rather than being fully engaged in meetings.
Federal Public Servants Maintain Flexible Work
While private-sector companies tighten remote work policies, federal public servants in Canberra continue to enjoy wide-ranging work-from-home options under agreements set by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
This flexibility is set to remain in place until 2027, despite political pressure from opposition leaders who have called for a return to office-based work. The Australian opposition has attempted to gather data on public sector remote work rates through Senate Estimates inquiries.
Recent figures from Home Affairs reveal that 25% of staff work remotely three or more days per week, while the figure is 22% for Services Australia and 20% at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
During a parliamentary session, opposition public service spokeswoman Jane Hume accused the government of giving public servants a “blank cheque not to be in the office”. She also questioned the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) about its lack of transparency regarding remote work data, calling the situation “extraordinary.”
Nicola Hinder, deputy secretary at DPS, acknowledged that the department’s HR systems require improvement to accurately track in-office attendance. She defended remote work arrangements, stating, “On occasion I work from home, and I think I’m much more productive than I am in the office.”
