The controversial work-from-home trend comes with an important warning: “Grow up.”

A debate has erupted over the privileges of working from home (WFH) and whether it gives Australians the right to work wherever they want. Two women were recently spotted on a Sydney beach with their laptops, and many assumed they were completing work tasks while enjoying the spring sunshine.

This comes as several major companies fended off backlash after sending employees back to the office, giving them back the WFH freedoms that some workers had enjoyed in recent years. But where is the line when it comes to remote working?

Is it unacceptable to work on the beach but settle in a cafe?

Recruitment expert Graham Wynn said Yahoo Finance that you can kiss your WFH rights goodbye if you don’t get caught at home.

“When your employer says you can work from home, they are giving you the responsibility, reliability and trust to do so,” he said.

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“If you go somewhere to work, for example to the beach, the employer will say: ‘Wait a minute, that’s irresponsible, that’s not what we agreed on. If employees do that, then we will stop it.’ The’.”

Career and lifestyle coach Lauren recently captured two scenes across Sydney of people sitting on their laptops in the great outdoors of Sydney.

One shot showed the two women on Balmoral Beach, while the other showed two other people typing on the grass in Bondi.

The difficulty is that no one has been able to confirm whether these people were working, studying, managing their lives, or something else entirely.

A woman claimed on social media that she was in the Balmoral Beach video and said she only worked at the university.

But it still highlighted the reality that some people who “work from home” aren’t actually working from home.

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Have you had issues with a boss or employee working remotely? Email [email protected]

Problems big and small when working from the beach

Many on social media highlighted the simple logistical problems that would arise from having a computer outside.

“I’m surprised their laptops aren’t overheating,” one person wrote.

“My laptop is getting too hot and I can’t see the screen properly,” another added.

It also sparked a discussion about whether it would be okay for people to work outside.

“COVID was how many years ago? Time to grow up and get back to work. As an employer, I would be tracking your every move and location if I even thought about allowing people to WFH,” one person said.

“Most companies wouldn’t allow this because of sensitive information, I guess it depends on what your job is! I’m WFH and would definitely get in trouble,” said another.

Wynn told Yahoo Finance that privacy would be a big issue if you worked in a place like a beach. He also pointed out the problems that would arise if you had to rush to a customer call and were there in your swimwear.

However, the recruiting expert added that there is another insidious problem to contend with.

“If you just tap into one Wi-Fi connection somewhere, how secure is your data?” he asked.

“If you work from home, you probably have a safer internet connection than a sandy beach. You don’t know what you’re tapping into and who else is using it.”

Gen Z boss: WHere, your work shouldn’t be as important as the way you work

Milly Bannister is the founder and director of not-for-profit organization ALLKND and believes Australians should be allowed to work wherever they want.

“I’m personally a big proponent of understanding how your energy and motivation fluctuates as an individual and in what environment,” the Gen Z boss explained Yahoo Finance.

“Many people are finding that they can be more creative and productive by moving away from traditional office environments.”

But like Wynn, she said the entire setup must be done on trust.

“If team members say they are working from home but are outside enjoying the sun, that is not a problem for me as long as their work is completed to a high standard, on time and they remain available for necessary communication.”

“For some people, working in different environments can actually stimulate creativity and improve well-being, which in turn can increase productivity, while for others it could be more of a distraction. It really depends on how well the individual manages their time and how they concentrate Where They work randomly.

Wynn didn’t mind working somewhere other than your home as long as you have an agreement with your manager and stay on top of your tasks.

“I think realistically it comes down to whether you’re still as effective, efficient or productive at the beach as you are at home,” he said.

“If you get the job done within the time frame allotted to it, I don’t see much of a problem with it on this side of the fence.”

Is it legal to work from the beach?

You need to be very careful about what can legally happen if you are caught working somewhere other than your home or office.

If you are a remote employee or freelancer, you are generally allowed to work from anywhere.

However, other employees should check their employment contracts as they usually state that you are allowed to work either from home or in the office, with a few exceptions.

Attorney Roxanne Hart said Yahoo Finance Getting caught not working where you agreed can have far bigger consequences than just an unpleasant tan.

“Usually your contract says you work at [office / home] or another location directed by the employer,” she explained.

“So if you work from the beach you are in breach and the employer could issue a warning.

“If the policy/employment contract simply states that you can work “remotely”, the employer could instruct the employee to stop working from the beach, as employees must follow reasonable and lawful instructions from their employer and this instruction would be appropriate.

“So if the employee returns to work from the beach after receiving this instruction, they may be given a warning.”

Hart and Wynn highlighted the various labor issues that could be at play at the beach.

“If you step on a jellyfish on the beach and are supposed to work from home, does WorkCover cover you?” Wynn said.

“There are some big problems there. An employer should ensure that they provide a safe working environment. That is the responsibility of the employer.”

“If you then take it to a beach somewhere, your employer immediately loses responsibility and liability.”

Hart added that you could be held liable if you damage your employer’s property during a trip to the beach, such as getting sand in your laptop or having it stolen.

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