Many workers would forgo a pay rise of up to 10% to secure more say in where and when they work, according to a study that says the Fair Work Act is failing to keep up with flexible practices, while other research says Working From Home (WFH) employees save an average of $10,000 a year.
A Deloitte and Swinburne University report on 2000 flexible location and onsite workers also warns of “clear” signs of increasing workloads and burnout, with a third putting in extra hours since the pandemic and over half exceeding their standard hours at least once a week.
It says a “dilemma” is emerging, with the Act “not effectively protecting flexible-location workers’ pay or their choices while employers are left exposed to penalties for non-compliance as more and more workers expect and will self-direct non-standard working hours that suit them”.
While 41% of flexible-location workers are deciding their own work patterns, according to the Reset, Restore, Reframe – Making Fair Work FlexWork report, it says they are most likely to be working regular non-standard hours because of extra workloads and a third are not being compensated for the additional time, compared with 16% of onsite workers.
Some 28% of flexible location workers are paid overtime for the extra hours, while 23% receive TOIL and 21% say they are compensated via their salary.
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This article has been prepared for information purposes only and is not legal advice. For legal advice regarding your specific circumstances, please contact Workplace Resolutions Law directly on (03) 5499 6131 or by email at admin@wrlaw.com.au
