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After making workplace adjustments to accommodate an employee's disability, an employer had reasonable business grounds to refuse his request to work fully remotely, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

It had already reduced the employee's work hours to help manage his mental health, and agreed to his doctor's proposed accommodations for a return-to-office trial, Commissioner Chris Simpson found.

The Allianz Partners travel help desk employee had attention-deficit disorder and associated anxiety. He had been working from home on reduced hours under medical advice since December 2024, and in July last year, an independent medical examination found he was functioning well and should be able to attend the office for at least two shifts or days per week.

A few months later, the employer flagged it hadn't received the new work-from-home (WFH) request the employee had said he'd submit, and directed him to attend the office at least two days per week, beginning 21 October.

The employee submitted a flexible working arrangement request later that day, asking to continue working from home for all of his rostered hours on an ongoing basis...