Coronavirus' potential for work-from-home ruling no disruption for some

The former public servant is currently working with ACT businesses on plans should coronavirus shut them down for weeks, or even months, at a time.

Of course, if more companies allowed employees to work remotely, as Ms Swainson does, they'd be in a much better position should the need arise to keep staff at home.

As workplaces across the country provide work-from-home options to employees this week to halt the spread of the virus, Ms Swainson said the coronavirus could be a catalyst for change.

"What I hope is that people get on board with flexible-work technology and its benefits are proven if there's an emergency response," she said.

"I would like to see particularly big organisations truly enable flexible arrangements."

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After three years of providing environmental and social facilitation to public and non-profit organisations from her backyard office, Ms Swainson has just begun renting a part-time desk at a co-working space in Barton.

She said the benefit is a reliable office, with Wi-Fi which always works, as well as feeling part of a community.

With three children, Ms Swainson said it's important to have the separation for her between the house and the office to prevent the blurring of work and family lines.

"I'm either in mum mode or work mode," she said. "Never at the same time."

While admitting she does miss the water-cooler chat, Ms Swainson said it's almost worth it to opt out of the mundane email chains about building repairs and not leaving dirty dishes in the lunchroom.

"Every time I think about going back into the office I look around my garden and think 'I don't know if I could do it'," she said.

Jan Kruger leads a team of three employees who work in advocacy for people with a disability.

While they recently began taking advantage of a co-working space at Dickson, the support service saves on expenditure by not renting a permanent office.

"I'd rather see that money go into the work we do," Mrs Kruger said.

"We like to think we're out in the community connecting with people instead of sitting at a desk all day. I think there's a lot of industries that could benefit from doing the same."

Prior to starting the business, Mrs Kruger was one of those employees behind a desk in Lyneham. She said she does sometimes miss "the incidental conversations".

"The benefit is feeling like a bit more of a team, you do miss that at home," she said.

Mrs Kruger said as a mother of young children, being able to look after them when they're sick and run them around when required has given her a better work-life balance.

"If we were required to work from home for two weeks, it would be a very easy shift for me to make," she said.

While the transition from a traditional work environment to a working from home arrangement tested self-discipline in the beginning, James Harber said now there's no going back.

"At home it is easier to muck around and not have structure," Mr Harber said. "When I first started productivity took a plunge. It'd be an hour's work in the morning, send a few emails and then watch a bit of Netflix."

The photographer said setting five daily goals each at night and waking up with a run helped him stick to a schedule.

Mr Harber said booking a desk at a co-work space in Fyshwick twice a month provides the social stimulation he needs to make working from home work for him.

"It gives me the freedom to get a bit more control of my life. To live life on my terms," he said.

Mr Harber said while it would be difficult for companies which need a strong administrative workforce to offer work-from-home options, the concept "had legs".

"It'd be nice if everyone could do that," he said.