Wayne Townsend, acting branch secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, said employers were “far less insistent” on workers returning to the office in light of the latest health advice.

“There are now more workers discussing with their employers working from home to a greater extent,” Townsend said.

“A few weeks ago, employers were also encouraging people to return to the office. The insistence people come back to the office is not occurring to the extent it might have been.”

Property Council data released last week showed occupancy levels at commercial offices stalled by about 49 per cent in June.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said people were now commuting to the office for one or two days a week instead of three or four.

“Nobody wants to see the health system under pressure,” Guerra said. “People are coming to different arrangements with their employers.”

The City of Melbourne held firm in its flexible working arrangements since the arrival of the new Omicron variants, with about 90 per cent of council staff going into the office.

Ben Cowie, as acting chief health officer earlier this month, had strongly advised people to work from home where possible in July and August, a view shared by federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.