Victorians working from home are in for the long haul before returning to the office, according to Premier Daniel Andrews.
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Mr Andrews has confirmed people working from home must continue working from home going forward, labeling a mass return to offices one of the state's "greatest challenges and one of the greatest risks".
He said a return to work would be one of the last restrictions to be eased, although he did not put a date on any such change.
"I would once again remind Victorians, if you can work from home, you must work from home," he said in his morning press conference.
"If everyone simply comes back to the office, everyone simply comes back to the workplace when they don't need to... the risk of transmission, the risk of outbreaks, the risk of this getting away from us is very very significant.
It will be almost the last thing that changes.
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
"I think it's fair to say this is amongst one of (the Chief Health Officers) most significant concerns.
"I apologise for any inconvenience that that caused people, but it is very important that we don't simply go back to normal, that is exactly the wrong thing to do; to assume that this virus is gone, it isn't, so we have to stay the course on this."
The announcement comes on the same day Relationships Australia released survey results outlining the major impacts workplace changes have had on people's mental health.
Of the 982 respondents to the survey, 63 per cent said they have experienced changes to their mental health in response to changes in their working conditions.
Relationships Australia National Executive Officer, Nick Tebbey added the data showed that those who relied on workplace interactions for social stimulation have felt the effects of working from home hardest.
"This research reveals that people from all aspects of the Australian workforce are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 workplace restrictions and changes," he said.
"We are seeing that those who relied on their workplace for social stimulation are more affected by these changes."
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