One NZ workers to protest changes to Work From Home rules

Call centre workers at One NZ (formerly Vodafone) are protesting changes to their work-from-home policy.

The company plans to require some contact centre employees to work from the office three times a week, up from the previous two days.

Unite Union, representing 115 workers at the company, opposes this change. In protest, some union members are working from home for the next 11 days.

An anonymous worker told State broadcaster RNZ the changes would impact ‘travel costs and the environment’ through increased commuting days.

A spokesperson for One NZ stated that the policy change aligns with practices across the business and aims to enhance customer outcomes.

However, Unite Union National Secretary John Crocker said workers had the right to disagree and voice their opinion. Crocker said the costs of commuting, parking would increase, along with ‘potential childcare issues’. One NZ had acknowledged the protest action would not disrupt customer service, leading to questions about the necessity of changing the Work From Home rules.