The Fair Work Commission’s ruling against Westpac last week — allowing a long-term employee to work from home permanently — has sent a clear message: flexibility is no longer a privilege, it’s a right.
The case highlighted the reality that many organisations already face — rigid return-to-office mandates no longer align with how people actually work. Australian CBD office occupancy is around 75% of pre-COVID levels, reflecting a hybrid norm where employees spend roughly two to three days per week in the office.
Creating opportunities for community spaces of all kinds and in all locations!
🏢 Flexible workspaces are thriving.
Operators like WOTSO and Liberty Flexible Workspaces are seeing growing demand as enterprises redesign portfolios around flexibility, productivity, and employee experience. In major markets, flexible office footprints increased 2.1% in the 12 months to June 2023, with operators reporting higher revenue and profitability. Landlords are increasingly partnering with providers to activate underutilised assets and meet hybrid workforce needs. At the same time, flexible workspaces are expanding beyond CBDs into suburban and regional markets, with WorkLife and many smaller operators like Niche Cowork reflecting the decentralisation of work.
⚙️ Why flexibility works:
• Hybrid work is now the standard — not the exception.
• Enterprise adoption of flexible space continues to grow.
• Data-driven insights guide workspace strategy and utilisation.
• People, culture, and amenities drive retention, performance, and engagement.
The Westpac decision reinforces that companies must now justify in-person work requirements with genuine business reasons. Flexible work isn’t just a legal or ethical imperative — it’s a strategy for productivity, inclusion, and organisational resilience.
The message is clear: flexibility works — for people, performance, and the bottom line.
At Vennu, we have the spaces you need!
