AFR Success | Is the work-from-home era ending? And professionals reveal their $10k side-hustles

Will we ever stop arguing about working from home?

This week, Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn became the latest corporate leader to order staff back to the office after internal research found they collaborated more when they worked alongside each other.

CBA’s group executive of human resources, Sian Lewis, said innovation was a clear outcome of employees coming together physically. So, the bank has?told staff they have to come in to the office for at least half of their working hours .

National Australian Bank chief executive Ross McEwan sent a similar missive to staff last month. He told the bank’s senior leaders they had to return to the office full-time, and other staff had to increase their office days to at least two or three a week.

One of McEwan’s arguments was that senior leaders could not properly coach and mentor younger workers if they stayed home. That’s an idea likely to resonate with Savvena Christoforou, a 23-year-old graduate employee at Accenture.

Christoforou says she gets a buzz from going in to the office because she loves meeting new people and often picks up useful information from spontaneous conversations in the kitchen or lift.

Big employers such as NAB, Accenture and Suncorp say it’s a common view among the most recent crop of tech-savvy graduates.

They tell AFR Success that?pandemic grads love the office , but struggle with business basics given many were unable to pick up work experience during the pandemic lockdowns.

This week, we also reveal the ChatGPT micro-courses?helping users outsource their admin work , hear from five professionals?earning thousands of dollars a month on the side , and take a look at?Bunnings’ decision to trial a four-day working week .

You're missing out!?These stories and more are available in full when you?sign up ?to our free?Work & Careers?newsletter: direct to your inbox, every Thursday.

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Five steps to pass on wealth without blowing up your family These strategies can help to create a successful transition that secures wealth, values and legacy, writes Duncan Hughes .

These professionals earn more than $10,000 a month on the side

Have you ever thought about starting your own business?

If you have, our article this week on professionals with businesses on the side could get you moving in the right direction.

Five entrepreneurs, ( Jen Nguyen , ?? Michael Batko , Bec Pink , Dominic Woolrych , and Kate Dillon ) some of whom are earning more than $10,000 from their side hustles, opened up to us about?where they got their ideas and how they put them into practice.

One clear lesson is that success is easier to come by when you enjoy what you are doing. Another is that you should release your product earlier than you think you should because getting feedback is the best way to find improvements.

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