The Commonwealth public service has granted its employees some of the most generous work-from-home (WFH) rights in the country. 

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has announced a breakthrough in discussions this week, marking a significant shift in the government's stance on workforce flexibility. 

Under the new deal, reports say there will be no caps on WFH days, a favourable bias towards approving requests, and the right to appeal refusals.

The agreement, part of the CPSU's bargaining with the Australian Public Service Commission, aims to cover 174,000 bureaucrats across 103 agencies. 

The CPSU's national secretary, Melissa Donnelly, hailed the agreement as "groundbreaking" and an opportunity for the APS to become a leader in flexible work.

Notably, the agreement allows all APS employees to request flexible work arrangements, including WFH, without any limits on the number of WFH days in a week. 

Agencies are encouraged to approve requests, and refusals can only occur if there are reasonable business grounds. Workers can challenge a refusal through the Fair Work Commission if agencies fail to genuinely reach an agreement.

While the agreement addresses flexible work conditions, negotiations on pay are ongoing. 

The CPSU rejected an initial offer of a 10.5 per cent increase over three years and is advocating for a 20 per cent wage bump. 

The focus now turns to improved pay proposals and pay equity.