Aussie bosses flag end to working from home privileges within just three years, according to KPMG survey

Australian company leaders have forecast the end of working from home privileges and say they want workers back into the office within three years.

Accounting and auditing firm KPMG found 82 per cent of Australian chief executives favoured office roles being fully based in the office by 2027.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: How Aussie bosses are luring workers back to the office.

Most business leaders, 78 per cent, said they would likely reward employees who made the effort to come into the office with pay rises, promotions, and better opportunities.

In the study, no chief executive said any of their roles would be fully remote in three years’ time, although 18 per cent predicted some roles would be a hybrid of working from home and office.

KPMG surveyed 1325 chief executives for the 2024 Global CEO Outlook study into the mindset and strategies of businesses leaders and found significantly more business leaders were backing the end of work from home practices this year compared to 2023.

Last year, 66 per cent said workers should be based in the office, 14 per cent agreed with hybrid working and 20 per cent approved of fully remote work.

Most leaders said they were confident about their organisation’s growth over the next three years, despite 20 per cent of them also flagging their revenue had declined over the past 12 months.

A lack of skilled workers and high levels of retirement were other issues highlighted in the Global CEO Outlook.

Eight-four per cent of Australian chief executives agreed with greater investment in skill development in local communities to “safeguard access to future talent”.

More than half, 58 per cent, of businesses were also looking to invest in artificial intelligence.

But the surveyed leader did not believe it would reduce the number of employees.

KPMG chief executive Andrew Yates said like KPMG, businesses were looking to AI to improve productivity while not replacing traditional roles.

“I am encouraged to see that business leader do not view it as a threat to their employees, but on the contrary as a driver of job productivity.

“It also also going to encourage them to take a fresh look at staff training and development, which is positive,” he said.