2
May
2025
No Mandates, Just Momentum: The Case for Hybrid Work
The way Australians work has changed forever. While many companies are mandating a return to the office, we believe a hybrid and work-from-home (WFH) approach isn’t just a perk - it’s a strategic advantage.
The Australian Workforce Has Spoken
Work-life balance and flexibility aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re priorities. According to the 2023 Census, 37% of Australians work from home at least once a week - a figure barely lower than the pandemic peak of 40% in 2021. The main driver? Flexible working arrangements have tripled in demand since 2015.
For professionals, remote work is now the norm. 60% of managers and knowledge workers continue to work from home, compared to just 22% across other industries. This shift reflects how modern businesses operate - not tied to desks, but driven by outcomes.
What Are Other Companies Doing?
A recent survey of our customers and suppliers reveals a clear trend: many major companies are now mandating employees to return to the office between 40% and 100% of the time. While some are striving to retain flexibility, there’s a growing emphasis on enforcing minimum in-office requirements. The underlying belief is that being physically present drives higher productivity and helps maximise output. For organisations still recovering from the financial impact of COVID-19, a return to the office is seen as a necessary step.
The NSW Government has also taken a firm stance. Premier Chris Minns’ directive for public sector employees to return to the office has been backed by business leaders. Katie Stevenson, State Executive Director at the Property Council of Australia, noted: "We need vibrant commercial centres every day of the week, and the Property Council has been consistent with its calls for government action to make public servants work from work." – ABC News
Yet, the singular focus on bringing workers back into commercial centres overlooks the significant benefits that flexible work has delivered to outer suburbs and regional areas since 2020. These areas experienced a meaningful boost in activity since that year, showing that economic and community vibrancy doesn’t need to be confined to central business districts. Flexibility has enabled it to spread more widely and more equitably.
As the workforce evolves, organisations could shift from blanket mandates to smarter strategies. Hiring should prioritise the right skills, regardless of location, especially when working within the same time zone offers many of the benefits of physical proximity. Decisions about in-office time should be based on individual performance, team dynamics, and business needs, not arbitrary requirements.
By focusing on outcomes instead of location, companies can build more agile, inclusive, and high-performing teams for the future. Companies like Atlassian are evolving their collaboration stack, incorporating AI to help teams stay aligned, automate routine tasks, and support more efficient ways of working, regardless of where people are located.
Why We’re Staying Hybrid
At GLiNTECH - A Valiantys Company, we trust our people to work how they work best. Our hybrid approach offers:
Greater flexibility; Allowing employees to structure their work around life.
No wasted commute time; More time for deep work, collaboration, and innovation when needed.
Stronger global connections; Remote work and distributed teams are now standard, helping us stay aligned with Valiantys teams worldwide.
Smarter use of technology; Collaboration tools empower teams to work across time zones with ease, whether joining meetings live or catching up later through recordings and shared notes.
Choice over mandates; Recognising that one size doesn't fit all; allowing teams and individuals to choose how they work, rather than enforcing a blanket return-to-office policy.
A Smarter Way to Work
At GLiNTECH, we believe results speak louder than desk time - and our people agree. With a 94% employee satisfaction rate and a recent Great Place to Work® certification, we know our hybrid approach is working.
We’ve seen firsthand how flexibility fuels independence, efficiency, and job satisfaction. By automating the majority of our internal systems with Atlassian tools like Jira, Confluence, and Loom, our team spends less time on manual processes and more time on what matters. This seamless tech foundation means our people can work from anywhere, without compromising on collaboration or impact. By embracing AI and automation, we’re freeing our teams to focus on high-value work, not admin.
Staying hybrid isn’t just about keeping up with modern work - it’s about leading it. Because when you empower people to work smarter, businesses thrive.