Free transport, cheap drinks part of plan to get Melbourne workers back to CBD

Office-workers in Melbourne's CBD could be treated to free public transport and a guaranteed 4pm knock-off on Fridays, under a bold plan to lure people back to the city.

The Property Council is in early talks with the City of Melbourne to make its "Fab Friday" initiative a reality by next month, according to executive director Danni Hunter.

"We want to see businesses come to the party and commit to their staff they can knock-off early and go and enjoy what the city has to offer," Ms Hunter told 9News.

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"We want to see free public transport on Fridays and great deals for consumers at hotels and hospitality venues."

Ms Hunter says the bold plan would help revitalise the CBD and increase office occupancy, which dropped to 24 per cent last month.

"The habits and behaviours formed over COVID are really important to people and we want to make it really exciting and attractive to come into the city on a Friday."

Lord Mayor Sally Capp told 9News "Fab Friday" could help "bring the buzz back to Melbourne".

"We want to encourage all major employers and landlords to consider innovative ways of getting their teams to return to the city.

"Every extra person in the city is a potential sale for cafes, restaurants and retailers," Cr Capp said.

The other major challenge for city businesses is reassuring staff it's safe to return to the office.

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Law firm Logie-Smith Lanyon Lawyers has rolled out a blue-tooth enabled tracing system called "Contact Harald" to try and reassure employees any future outbreaks of COVID-19 would be quickly contained.

"If you've been in contact with anyone within a 1.5 metre distance for more than two minutes, you'll be registered," managing partner Andrew Logie-Smith said.