Practitioner perspectives: Challenges to the place and time of work

Since the pandemic, conversations about place of work and timing of work have become more intertwined. Flexibility of place of work often leads to greater flexibility in the timing of when that work is performed. Tensions can arise between stakeholders if, for example, employees seek a right to flexibility in where they work, and employers seek to retain control of how their business operates. This research brings a practitioner lens to the changes and challenges to the time and place of work, using a practitioner-informed methodology, and drawing on expertise from law, employer representation, union representation and the public sector. The research suggests a common theme around control of working time, although from different angles, with employers concerned at increased codification of obligations, unions seeking to embed rights for flexible place and time of work, and the public sector dealing with both managerial control and manager capability. The research also points to clear areas for concern around equity and safety issues, which highlight valuable potential areas for research.