As more employers push for an end to working from home, a major issue is emerging – their offices aren’t ready

Opposition leader Peter Dutton declared he would force public servants back to the office full-time should the Coalition win the election, saying it was time to end hybrid working.

In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to protect flexible working arrangements and criticised Mr Dutton for being “out of touch”, particularly surrounding the needs of working mothers.

But the reality is that more and more employers are eager to get staff back into offices, five years on from a pandemic-induced seismic shift in how white-collar Australians do their jobs.

There’s just one problem.

Across social media and in forums dedicated to chatter about corporate life, and based on anecdotal reports received by news.com.au, it seems some offices aren’t ready.

A perfect storm of factors in the years since Covid has seen many workers urged to return to the office engage in a regular battle with their peers.

To cut costs, a number of businesses slashed their office space commitments or delayed or cancelled expansion plans. At the same time, many went through hiring sprees without factoring in the need for more room because hybrid working saw demand even out.

Now, both mandates and strong encouragement to get back together are revealing issues.

Popular Instagram account @theaussiecorporate recently shared multiple acco...
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