Flexible and productive work

A common clause on flexible working arrangements is now reflected in all Australian Public Service agency enterprise agreements. The implementation of these arrangements considers the demands of delivering high-quality services to the Australian Government and community, the needs of the agency and team, and the individual circumstances of the employee.

Flexibility significantly enhances the APS employee value proposition, making the APS a more competitive employer in a tight labour market. In 2024, 67% of respondents to the APS New Starter Survey said they were attracted to the APS because of the access to flexible work arrangements. Some 82% of respondents to the APS Employee Census indicated they were satisfied with their non-monetary employment conditions such as leave and flexible work arrangements.

Flexible work supports strategies to improve diversity in the APS at all levels. It supports APS capability by assisting with attracting and retaining the employees needed to deliver for the Australian community, including those located at a wider range of locations. This helps public servants to do their job better.

The Australian Public Service Commission has provided guidance to agencies on implementing the common clause for flexible working arrangements. Training for managers is being expanded so the arrangements reflect the needs of the individual, team and agency. Learning programs such as APS Leadership Edge for Executive Level 2s are designed to assist managers in developing the skills and techniques needed to build effective and productive hybrid teams.

Agencies are considering how best to implement flexibility in their own operating environments.

Home Affairs has developed a Flexible Work Playbook. This sets out ways employees and managers can work together to agree on flexible work arrangements that suit an individual’s circumstances and result in positive, productive outcomes for the employee and the team.

The playbook guides employees through where, when and how to work flexibly and ways to access flexible arrangements. It guides managers through decision-making, based on what is possible for the type of work being done. It establishes the importance of clear communication, accountability and trust.

Another advantage of the playbook is that it offers a practical discussion of management capability in the context of flexible work and hybrid teams. This includes in the areas of performance, connection, inclusivity and creating a positive workplace culture. It is an example of ways the APS can facilitate flexibility in the workplace while continuing to effectively deliver public services.

Results from the 2024 APS Employee Census indicate that 76% of APS employees access some form of flexible work arrangements. This includes working away from the office at least part of the time (61%), flexible hours of work (26%) and part-time hours (13%).

See also in this report

Working in the APS – APS-wide bargaining

Working in the APS – APS Location Framework

APS agency benchmarking – Working away from the office

Appendix 2–State of the Service additional data

Find out more

Australian Government (2023) Principles of Flexible Work in the APS, APSC website, accessed 14 August 2024.