In the wake of the pandemic, remote and flexible working quickly became the norm for many organisations. Since then, we’ve seen a gradual return to the office, with some companies introducing mandatory in-office days. But is remote work really on the way out?

There’s been ongoing discussion—especially among Australian workers—that working from home is being phased out, with more businesses requiring employees to return to their desks. While this may seem true in some cases, recent research tells a different story.

According to the Australian HR Institute (AHRI), “As of this year, 44 per cent of employers say that they have a minimum requirement for full-time employees to attend the physical workplace between three and five days a week, down from 48 per cent of employers in 2023.”

This data shows a subtle but important shift: instead of increasing office mandates, many organisations are maintaining—or even loosening—their hybrid work policies. In fact, the most common arrangement continues to be three days in the office per week, a figure unchanged from the previous year.

70% of organisations also reported that they plan to maintain their current hybrid model over the next few years, suggesting that hybrid working arrangements are stabilising.

What are we hearing on the ground?

We are definitely seeing what the research is suggesting, it seems that many companies are now offering a 3 and 2 hybrid model, but aren't mandating specific days and are allowing their employees to choose their working from home days. We're seeing a much more flexible approach.

However, we have found that remote training is almost non-existent, especially in the Contact Centre industry. Most training must be completed on-site, and we also see the that working from home or flexible working is only offered once both the training and probationary period are complete.

With the 2025 Contact Centre Best Practice Report release just around the corner, it will be interesting to benchmark the remote working trends across the Contact Centre industry alongside this new data!

So, what does this mean for the future of work?

Despite the noise, working from home isn't going anywhere. What we're seeing instead is a steady move toward long-term hybrid models—ones that blend flexibility, productivity, and connection. For employers, it’s a sign to focus on sustainable, people-first workplace strategies. And for employees, it’s a reassuring reminder that flexibility is becoming more than a perk—it’s part of the new normal.

To learn more you can read the AHRI's full article here.

SMAART Recruitment