Domino's introduces permanent 'work from anywhere' policy

Domino’s was one of the first companies in Australia to transition to a work from home model in the face of COVID-19. Now, more than three months on, the pizza company is leading the way when it comes to offering flexibility and remote working arrangements.

A recent internal survey found more than 85 per cent of Domino’s head office employees are interested in continuing to work remotely post-pandemic, or in a hybrid model where they split their time between working in and out of the office.

Domino’s Australia and New Zealand CEO Nick Knight said the Company is more than happy to accommodate.

“At Domino’s, we pride ourselves on being able to deliver a pizza just about anywhere – whether it be to a customer’s house or while they’re out and about at the park or beach.

“So, it’s only fitting that we give our head office employees that same luxury with the ability to work from anywhere. Being a technology-focused business makes this process easier and more seamless,” Mr Knight said.

“If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it’s that flexible working arrangements, particularly working remotely, can be productive and beneficial for all parties.

“From reduced commute times, to more time spent with family, and the ability to retain talent regardless of geographic location, I really do believe this is the way of the future.

“As such, our head office employees have been given the option to tailor their work week to what suits them. We know that there are some people who are enjoying the flexibility of working from home, and we’d like to continue to offer that, and we also know that there are some who are keen to get back in the office, and we’re doing what we can to make that a reality in the safest way possible.”

Many employees have already taken advantage of the new working arrangements, moving out of Brisbane for a ‘sea change’, or even interstate.

Domino’s Social Media Content Coordinator Bree found herself stuck in Sydney visiting family and friends when COVID-19 hit. After working in Sydney for the past three months, she’s decided to make the move permanently.

“My partner and extended family live down here, so it’s great to be closer to them. From a work perspective, it has also opened up so much opportunity to capture new and exciting content for our social media channels,” she said.

For Domino’s Security Engineer Peter, the benefits of working from home are a little different.

“My wife recently gave birth to our first child and now, instead of the standard two weeks’ paternity leave, I can be home with them all day and won’t miss any of the special moments,” he said.

The Company is now turning its focus to what the office of the future may look like, and how those wishing to return can do so safely.

Domino’s Health and Safety Business Partner Ben Owens said the project is more complex than it sounds.  

“With more than 300 employees normally in the building, one of our key challenges is adhering to social distancing requirements at all times. This will impact things like desk spacing and availability, the number of people allowed in the elevator at once, and the functionality of common areas like kitchens and meeting rooms.

“We are currently working through a number of solutions, including staggering start and finish times on the days employees are in the office, as well as things like installing sneeze guards between desks and thermometer testing employees before they enter the building each day. These are similar measures that our in-store team members are required to do.”

And for those concerned about losing culture and engagement while working remotely…

“We’ve implemented a number of proactive initiatives to keep our culture alive and well, such as a virtual lunchroom you can drop in to, virtual trivia and even a virtual Rally next month which will see our entire workforce across ANZ come together,” Mr Knight said.

“We found one of the things our employees were missing most wasn’t necessarily social interaction (thanks to the wonders of modern technology), but things like ordering pizza for lunch and our iconic ‘ice-cream Fridays’.

“While it may look a little different to how it used to, we’ve been able to bring some of these perks to employees at home and they’ve been absolutely loving it!”

Domino’s will stagger its safe return to the office over the next few months, closely monitoring advice from the Queensland Government. Every decision made will be with people and safety front of mind.