Coles backroom staff ordered back to office

ALBANESE
Coles has become the latest major company to order workers back into the office. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Coles has tightened the reins on work-from-home rules for staff based in the company’s mammoth Melbourne head office.

A memo from chief executive Leah Weckert, posted on social media on Wednesday,

says all head office staff need to work in the office one day per week, starting next week.

Then over the course of the next six months, staff will need to be in the office three days a week. One of those days in the office “should be” Monday or Friday, Ms Weckert says.

BCA ANNUAL DINNER
Coles boss Leah Weckert was paid $4.69m last year, made up of 42 per cent salary and 58 per cent in bonuses and stock. Picture: NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Coles has about 5000 office-based staff.

“In recognising the diversity of our workforce, each team will transition to our new ways of working at a pace that suits them, allowing time to plan and adjust,” Ms Weckert said.

“I encourage you to consider any arrangement you may need to make to facilitate our new ways of working.”

Coles’ head office is in Hawthorn East, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The entire complex comprises 12 interconnected office buildings, two underground carparks and a multi-story carpark.

The Coles head office in Melbourne's east. Picture: Google
The Coles head office in Melbourne's east. Picture: Google

Coles has five more years to run on its 15-year lease for the 62,000 sqm, information from the real estate developer which worked on the recent expansion shows.

One commenter on the chief executive’s memo says the “massive building and carpark” can fit thousands of people, with an onsite coffee shop, convenience store and chef for breakfast and lunch every day of the work week.

But the changes also apply to Coles’ other offices across the country.

Abstract reflection of business office buildings in glass window in downtown urban area
Corporations are juggling the costs of leasing their office spaces with expectations from workers of being able to work from home. Picture: iStock

The Coles liquor division has been transitioning to the new scheme in the past months, and for those staff the three-days-per-week rule comes into effect January 6.

“Our business and ways of working have evolved significantly in the past couple of years, and I hope this note provides you with clarity around our commitment to both providing flexibility and creating opportunities for teams to physically connect, collaborate and Win Together,” Ms Weckert says in the memo.

A Coles spokesperson said the changes “balances” flexibility with in-person collaboration.

WINEMAKERS
Coles owns Liquorland, along with Coles Liquor, First Choice and Vintage Cellars. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“We know that a lot of our team have already returned to the support centres for a few days each week, and this change is about how we continue to foster a collaborative work environment and support the development of our people to deliver for our customers,” the spokesperson said.

The NSW government, Amazon, Dell, Tabcorp and Flight Centre have been some of the recent major employers to order staff back into the office.

Survey results released last month show more than half of 500 Australian tech companies are losing staff to companies with more flexible working arrangements.