No change has been made to Stormont Executive guidance to work from home where possible as the Health Minister lifts all Covid-19 legal restrictions.
Robin Swann is removing all remaining legal restrictions introduced in Northern Ireland during the pandemic from Tuesday to be replaced by guidance.
But business leaders have expressed frustration that the work-from-home message remains the same.
Mr Swann hopes the matter will be reviewed in the coming days.
He is expected to consider whether he can change the guidance in the absence of approval from the wider Executive.
The full five-party Executive cannot meet after the DUP's Paul Givan resigned as First Minister, which also forced the resignation of Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill.
Other ministers are still in place and can make some limited decisions.
Mr Swann, who tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, was advised last week on the potential legal complications of him removing Covid regulations without the wider Executive endorsement.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The announcement yesterday was solely in relation to changes to legal restrictions.
"The situation around working from home is that it already was Executive guidance and was not covered in regulation.
"The Health Minister has already made it clear he wants the guidance on working from home to now be urgently reviewed and that he will work with ministerial colleagues to try to secure progress on the issue."
Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said they were "disappointed" that Mr Swann's announcement on restrictions "does not include a clear commitment to return to the workplace".
He added: "Safely reopening offices and workplaces is not only vital to boost footfall for our high streets, but also for our economy and returning our society to normal.
“Northern Ireland needs to catch up with other parts of the UK with its return-to-workplace message.
“Retail NI want to see the Executive establish a working group to produce a clear and coordinated plan for the safe and timely return of public and private sector staff to their offices and workplaces."
Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton said that with workers in other cities returning to offices, Northern Ireland "stands out compared to the rest of the UK".
He called for the guidance to be changed "as quickly as possible", saying that many employers feel it is "impacting negatively on their productivity and competitiveness".
