Myer is ending work-from-home arrangements for most corporate staff, requiring employees to attend the office five days a week when the retailer moves into its new Melbourne headquarters next month.

The company is relocating to 75 Dorcas Street in South Melbourne, a larger site that will bring together Myer’s corporate teams with staff from Dotti, Jay Jays, Just Jeans, Portmans and Jacqui E, the five apparel brands acquired from Premier Investments.

According to sources familiar with the change, employees were informed of the new policy this week, with some staff unhappy about the loss of flexible working arrangements.

Exceptions are expected for some employees, including people who live significant distances from Melbourne, parents with particular caring responsibilities and workers with health-related needs.

One staff member said the decision had been communicated suddenly and could prompt some employees to look for work elsewhere.

Myer confirmed it is moving into a new store support office designed to bring its Myer and apparel brand teams together under one roof.

The company’s current Docklands office was occupied during the COVID-19 pandemic and could accommodate only around one-third of its workforce.

The new South Melbourne site has capacity for about 1,200 staff and will use a hot-desking system, with most employees not assigned a permanent workstation.

Teams will instead be grouped into departmental neighbourhoods, including areas for finance and merchandise, with additional meeting rooms, collaboration areas and studios for marketing work.

The timing of Myer’s decision puts it at odds with the direction of proposed Victorian workplace laws.

The state Labor government is seeking to give eligible employees the right to work from home for up to two days a week where remote work is considered practical.

The proposed changes passed Victoria’s lower house in September but have stalled in the upper house after being referred to a parliamentary committee.

Premier Ben Carroll has said the government intends to proceed with the laws, with a proposed start date of 1 July 2027.

Business groups have criticised the proposal, arguing it could reduce productivity and discourage investment. Some have also flagged the possibility of a legal challenge if the legislation is passed.

Myer’s move reflects a broader shift among large employers that are asking staff to spend more time in the office after years of hybrid working.

Amazon Australia has already required corporate staff to return five days a week, while Tesla has taken a similar approach. Banks and law firms have generally opted for hybrid mandates requiring employees to attend the office for part of the working week.

Melbourne office occupancy also continues to recover, with CBRE reporting it exceeded 65 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 for the first time since 2020.