Roxy Jacenko's Shift to Full Remote Work

Roxy Jacenko, once a vocal critic of working from home, has made a complete turnaround. She announced that her talent agency, Ministry of Talent, will transition to a fully remote model by the end of 2025. This decision affects all seven employees and marks a significant departure from her previous stance.

The Backstory of Her Change

Jacenko, known for her strong work ethic, had publicly slammed remote work in late 2024, calling it ineffective and a "lazy way" of doing business. She emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration and was often seen as a proponent of the traditional office environment, spending long hours at her Paddington HQ.

Reasons Behind the Decision

She explained that this shift is not about her personal preferences but is made in the best interests of her team. Jacenko stated, "I think of myself last, always have and always will." She highlighted that her agency's work, which involves representing talent across Australia and internationally, has always been conducted primarily via email, making remote work a natural fit.

Key factors include the nature of their business, which relies on digital communication, and the trust she has in her long-serving team members, some of whom have been with her for over five years. She added that accountability is not a concern due to their experience and training.

Remote Work in Practice

Since relocating to Singapore in 2022, Jacenko has been working remotely herself, managing the team through real-time communication on WhatsApp despite the time difference. This experience showed her that maintaining an office was unnecessary and that funds could be better allocated to business growth.

She plans to ensure the team still meets face-to-face occasionally, but not in a traditional office setting. Jacenko also clarified that her criticism of remote work was rooted in concerns about employee entitlement, not the model itself.

Views on Work-Life Balance Laws

Despite embracing remote work, Jacenko remains critical of Australia's new Right to Disconnect Laws, arguing that they don't account for the varied needs of different businesses. She gave examples from real estate and talent management to illustrate why such blanket rules are impractical.

This move by a high-profile business leader underscores the evolving nature of work and the importance of adapting to changing circumstances for success.