3. Flexible work practices

In recent years, opportunities for more flexible ways of working have increased. The successful implementation of these practices requires a strategic approach that equally considers the needs of people, space and technology. It is recommended that experts in each of these fields are consulted.

Flexible work practices that can affect office space include:

• working from distributed work centres that are government office spaces located near employee residential areas and used by those living nearby
• flexible work scheduling, including staggered start and finish times, part-time working and job sharing
• working from home, typically for part of the work week, using information and communication technology.

These practices may provide opportunities for desk sharing at the main office where one desk can be used by more than one worker at different times. Workers choose any desk that is available from a general pool or designated group. This reduces the number of desks needed, and space can be designated for other purposes.

The success of these practices requires not only suitable office fitout, but changes to office practices (such as paperless or paper light working) and suitable mobile office technology. It is important that employees are consulted, and human resource and change strategies are agreed, before any office space changes are implemented.

The Public Sector Commission has information on the human resource considerations for implementing flexible work practices.