Working from work: ACC pulls back on hybrid working provisions
Wednesday, 8 October 2025
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ACC is tightening its hybrid working rules and upping the number of days its employees must work in the office.
It’s understood many staff are unhappy about a lack of consultation on the matter. Meanwhile, the union is seeking legal advice.
The Post previously revealed ACC was considering forcing staff back into the office, following the release of a critical culture review.
ACC employees will need to be in the office at least three days a week ‒ increasing the expectation from two ‒ after the culture review found its “hierarchical and siloed structure” was exacerbated by work-from-home policies.
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An email provided to The Post by ACC went to staff on Tuesday morning from chief executive Megan Main cementing the decision that “all staff who work from an ACC office will be expected to be on site at least three days per week”.
It will come into force in less than two months, on December 1.
Main said the new rules would “apply consistently across ACC, with leaders having some discretion particularly as we transition into the new arrangements”.
Public Service Association national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the announcement had gone down poorly.
“The PSA is seeking legal advice as ACC have legal obligations to staff including to at least discuss these matters with an open mind, we will aim to stop this decision,” she said.
ACC and the PSA are currently in facilitation over its collective agreement.
“The approach to flexible work by ACC is one of the reasons the parties cannot settle the collective agreement and it is a very disappointing breach of good faith that instead of working with the union on solutions, they have simply announced their position to staff,” Fitzsimons said.
The ACC review, released in September, recommended a review of hybrid and remote working policies which allow some staff to work from home up to three days a weeks, “to build inclusivity/engagement/productivity”.
Main said in the email while “we have made the decision to change the settings, we’re inviting everyone to share their thoughts on what practical changes could be considered to support the adjusted settings, with a focus on how we can build connections and improve ways of working to support a more effective hybrid working approach and ultimately to deliver better rehabilitation outcomes for our clients”.
Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez said workplace flexibility “enables more productive employees and can reduce pay gaps”.
“So instead of punching down on public servants we should invest in the public service.'
In 2022, ACC formally introduced an option to most staff to work from home up to three days a week.
The culture review stated that many staff “love the fact that they only have to go into the office two days per week and they highlighted hybrid working as one of the key benefits of working for ACC”.
However, there were also “some strong views expressed by interviewees (especially leaders) about the adverse impact the Hybrid Working Policy has had on staff engagement, team culture, collaboration, connection and training”.
“Some staff even reported that they never go into the office.”
A May internal report showed staff in one team were in the office less than one day a week.
Late last year, ACC reviewed the policy “in light of declining performance and various workplace studies demonstrating the benefit of face-to-face work time (as well as Government announcements that public sector organisations should be working fewer days from home)”.
“However, given this came off the back of the 2024 restructure and appreciating the impact that significant change had on staff, after some debate, the executive team elected to defer a decision on this matter.”
ACC announced the independent review following a Stuff investigation earlier this year over concerns regarding two deputy chief executives, poor workplace culture and potential conflicts of interest.
ACC Minister Scott Simpson was glad to see ACC “actioning this recommendation raised in the recent culture review”.
“I want to thank the staff who work hard every day to support New Zealanders back to work and independence.”
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