Some companies will allow people to continue to work from home once COVID-19 restrictions ease - but only on a reduced basis, according to Illawarra Business Chamber's Adam Zarth.
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The chamber's executive director also didn't believe any increase in people working from home will lead to companies closing down their offices in the Illawarra.
Since late March companies with employees who can work from home have been encouraged to do so.
From speaking to business owners in the Illawarra, Mr Zarth has found working from home as been a "roaring success in terms of productivity".
Some of those business owners may have previously been resistant to letting their staff stay home and work, but Mr Zarth felt COVID-19 may have changed their minds.
"One of the few benefits of the coronavirus has been to give employers a bit of a test lab for what happens when employees work from home," Mr Zarth said.
"Right now employers will be looking across their teams and considering carefully who are good candidates for that. Where it's allowable they will probably be giving serious consideration to allowing some of these working situations to continue."
But Mr Zarth said it's unlikely employees will be allowed to Zoom from home five days a week - some time in the office will be expected.
"It will be unlikely to be on a full-time basis, is what I understand," he said.
One of the few benefits of the coronavirus has been to give employers a bit of a test lab for what happens when employees work from home.
- Illawarra Business Chamber Executive Director Adam Zarth
"People could work from home two or three days a week - it's unlikely to be a five-day-a-week proposition."
Those who could benefit most from this are people climbing on a train each morning to commute to Sydney
As well as allowing them to sleep in a little longer and do a day's work in Wollongong rather than a Sydney CBD office, it would also reduce the pressure on the South Coast rail line.
There was also the possibility that some commercial office space would be freed up as companies that have employees working from home realise they don't need quite so much floor space.
Mr Zarth said only a small amount of businesses would do that; there won't be a mass of "for lease" signs won't be appearing in office windows across the city.
"I'm not expecting a huge reorganisation of working practices after this," he said.
"I just don't think being put into hibernation for six or 12 months is going to alter the entire corporate culture and the way we work in Australia.
"If anything the changes will be minor when we return to work."
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
