Office or work from home? Employees want the same compensation

Employees seek the same compensation for whatever working model they are adhering to. Whether in the office or out of it, it makes no difference to them.

New research from Robert Half found that Australian workers expect to be compensated for their work arrangements, whether it be working from the office or working from home.

Eighty-one per cent of the workforce still work from home at least once a day each week, showing how prevalent the hybrid working arrangement is throughout Australia.

Eighty-six per cent of employers believe that their staff would return to the office at least once a week, and 61 per cent of workers say they want commuting assistance or allowance for fuel if they are expected to attend the office. Employees who work from home (55 per cent), however, believe they should be given the same compensation and allowance that they would receive from coming into the office.

Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half, stated: “Employees no longer see some benefits as an extra but rather an expectation. The hybrid and remote workplace has strongly influenced the benefits employees expect, with the in-office worker, the remote worker and the hybrid worker all wanting to be compensated across various work set-ups.”

Beyond hybrid working benefits, there is a mismatch between what benefits employers offer or plan to offer versus what employees really want in 2024. The wishlist for employees is as follows:

• Financial allowance to work from home (61 per cent)
• Meals provided (61 per cent)
• Commuting assistance or allowance for fuel (61 per cent)
• A flexible benefits program that allows staff to choose their perks (61 per cent)
• Extra bonus (60 per cent)
• Health insurance (58 per cent)

“Benefits can be an important differentiator for employees when it comes to accepting a job offer and looking to work elsewhere, particularly when the salary isn’t spot on. As well as providing value for employees by financially offsetting some of their work-related costs, perks and benefits also provide value for employers who may not be in the position to offer increased salaries,” said Gorton.

It’s a big ask from employees seeking the same compensation when working from home, and it is a good example of how the workplace terrain has changed over the past five years. There is no doubt that this discussion will create intense debates between corporate higher-ups and employees, yet it is a discussion that will be had nonetheless.