<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> government is pushing ahead with its work-from-home laws, meaning millions of employees will be soon be legally entitled to do so at least two days a week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jacinta-allan" rel="" target="" title="Allan"><span>Allan</span></a><span> Government first announced its intention to enshrine </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/work" rel="" target="" title="work-from-home"><span>work-from-home</span></a><span> into law in August.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today the government announced controversial rights for employees of small businesses.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/protection-visa-australia-home-affairs-warns-british-and-irish-visa-holders-against-abusing-system/ae3679c0-7a25-4518-bfce-d149802766d7" target="_blank"><strong><span>British and Irish visitors warned against abusing system by applying for protection visas</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's what we know about the proposed legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is the proposed legislation?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the proposed laws, Victorians who are able to do their job from home will have the right to do so at least two days per week.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-work-from-home-legislation/b83f85b4-168a-4443-9d50-9b5afc701640" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When the announcement was first floated last year, Premier Jacinta Allan did not specify whether small businesses would need to provide the same work from home flexibilities as major corporation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That was today cleared up when the government announced the laws would exist regardless of the size of a workplace.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-middle-east-war-widens-to-include-militias-as-israeli-and-american-planes-pound-iran/15701ee3-65c8-45ed-a7c3-39d63aca3022" target="_blank"><strong><span>War widens as Israeli and US planes pound Iran and Tehran and its proxies hit back</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to media today, Allan described the incoming legislation as "an outcome that benefits everyone".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It increases workforce participation, its boosts productivity, it puts more money back into household budgets, which has overall flown-on benefits for the economy," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Further details will be revealed when the government releases the legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People want to see their right to work from home protected because it's at risk," Allan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's at risk from employers who are unreasonably refusing request to work from home for people who can. Unions are hearing this on a regular basis."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Is anyone exempt from the legislation?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government is yet to announce whether specific industries or jobs will be exempt from the mandate, but said it would be enforced for public and private sector jobs that can "reasonably" be done from home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Small businesses are not exempt from the proposed legislation, meaning companies with any number of employees will be forced to allow their staff to work at least two days from home, where possible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>When will the laws come into effect?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The legislation is still being drafted by the government, so many of the details are yet to be announced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Allan said she wants to see the laws pass through parliament before the end of the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We'll be providing further detail as we bring the legislation to parliament," Allan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fine-for-using-mobile-phone-while-driving-australia-device-in-lap-explainer/0a66e482-73d8-4cdb-baeb-77b1cb499a44" target="_blank"><strong><span>This simple bad habit while driving could cop Aussies up to $1200 in fines</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Have small businesses been consulted?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 37,000 Victorians, including employees and businesses, responded to an open consultation regarding work from home laws, Allan said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Of that number, three quarters said working from home was 'extremely important' to them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But business advocates have argued it should be up to them to make the call, rather than having the government stepping in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Committee For Melbourne chief executive Scott Veenker said the changes will bring "additional regulatory burden" and could push businesses to source work elsewhere.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's going to be tough for businesses to adhere to that," Veenker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's another reason to look at whether you're having businesses operating in Melbourne and Victoria."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>