A Myer office return will require most corporate employees to attend the office five days a week when the retailer moves next month into a larger Melbourne headquarters, Channel News reported. Employees were informed of the policy this week as Myer prepares to put its teams under one roof with five apparel brands acquired from Premier Investments. Channel News said the timing puts Myer at odds with the direction of proposed Victorian workplace laws.
Key Takeaways
- Most Myer corporate staff face a five-day office rule as the retailer relocates.
- The South Melbourne site can hold about 1,200 people and will use hot-desking.
- Staff-reported exceptions cover distance, caring duties and health-related needs.
- A Victorian work-from-home bill is stalled, with a proposed start of 1 July 2027.
What the Myer Office Return Covers
Ragtrader reported that the Australian Financial Review reported the news, claiming many staff are not happy with the new arrangements. It did not describe the Financial Review as the first outlet to carry it. Head Topics said rumours of scrapping work-from-home arrangements first appeared on The Aussie Corporate. A Myer spokesperson told Ragtrader the new support office is purposely designed to bring Myer and Apparel Brands teams together under one roof, and did not respond to the return-to-office mandate.
Head Topics dated the five-day order from 2027 and said the company will move to Dorcas Street in South Melbourne in November. One source, in that account, said: “This was suddenly communicated to us. It was very shocking.” Channel News reported that a staff member said the decision had been communicated suddenly and could prompt some employees to look for work elsewhere. Apparel Brands teams — Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Dotti, Portmans and Jacqui E — are already in the office five days a week, Ragtrader reported.
Exceptions described by staff, not in a Myer statement cited here, include:
- People living a significant distance from Melbourne, including Geelong
- Parents with caring responsibilities, including single mums
- Workers with health-related needs
Channel News said exceptions are expected for some employees in those groups. Head Topics also reported that multiple employees told the Australian Financial Review that work-from-home arrangements have been cancelled, while Myer has declined to officially comment.
South Melbourne Headquarters and Hot-Desking
The new store support office is at 75 Dorcas Street in South Melbourne, replacing a Docklands site on Latrobe Street that Myer occupied during the COVID-19 pandemic. That office could accommodate only around one-third of the workforce, and the move came before Myer acquired Apparel Brands from Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments. Ragtrader reported that Myer will take five of six floors, alongside a couple of other tenants, making it the largest tenant.
| Site or feature | What outlets report |
|---|---|
| Docklands, Latrobe Street | Occupied during COVID; room for around one-third of the workforce |
| 75 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne | Around 1,200 staff; Myer takes five of six floors |
| Desks | Hot-desking; most or many employees have no assigned workstation |
| Fit-out | Department neighbourhoods, including finance and merchandise; more meeting rooms, collaboration spaces and studios |
Channel News said studios are for marketing work. Ragtrader said they are for photo and video shoots. Head Topics said the building will house more than 1,000 staff and is understood to scrap designated desks for flexible working areas and hot-desking.
Victorian Work-From-Home Bill Still Stalled
The state Labor government is seeking to give eligible employees the right to work from home for up to two days a week where remote work is considered practical. Head Topics said the bill was introduced under former premier Jacinta Allan. It passed the lower house in September, then stalled in the upper house after a referral to a parliamentary committee. Premier Ben Carroll has said the government intends to proceed, with a proposed start of 1 July 2027.
In a September 10 press release cited by Ragtrader, the Carroll government confirmed that date and set 1 January 2028 for small businesses with fewer than 15 staff. Ragtrader reported that the bill stalled five days later, with the amendments believed to be in limbo as Victoria prepares for a state election in late November. Head Topics said the Opposition and crossbench sent the bill to committee, and that the pause is likely to last until after the November election.
Business groups have argued the proposal could reduce productivity and discourage investment. Channel News reported that some have flagged the possibility of a legal challenge if the legislation is passed. The Australian Retail Council joined Australian Industry Group, the Business Council of Australia and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in calling for the government to axe the legislation. Their joint statement, reported by Ragtrader, said: “Despite Premier Ben Carroll offering a significant range of amendments, those amendments do not fix a fundamentally flawed law that will risk Victoria’s economy and send jobs interstate.”
The statement also said: “Victoria already has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, and at a time when households and businesses are under pressure, Victoria neither needs nor wants this legislation.” Tim Piper, Australian Industry Group’s Victorian head, welcomed the stalling and labelled it a fatal blow. He said: “The legislation would have created a legal right for eligible employees to work from home up to two days a week – it was an unnecessary government intervention in workplace arrangements.” He added: “Working from home remains popular with many employees, and we support this, and workplaces are already adapting to flexible work arrangements.”
How Other Employers Are Handling Office Time
Amazon Australia has already required corporate staff to return five days a week, while Tesla has taken a similar approach, Channel News reported. Banks and law firms have generally opted for hybrid mandates requiring employees to attend the office for part of the working week. Melbourne office occupancy also continues to recover, with CBRE reporting it exceeded 65 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 for the first time since 2020.
Head Topics said Myer could be forced to backflip on the mandate if Victoria’s work-from-home laws pass. Carroll still maintains the laws will be in effect from July 2027. The September 10 release remains the source for the later small-business date of 1 January 2028.
