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Pre-existing flexible work arrangements that gave other workers Fridays off meant it was reasonable for an employer to refuse a new request involving that particular day, the Fair Work Commission has found.

The arrangements in place for four workers had "created a particular problem" in relation to any further reduction in the availability of trained staff on Fridays, Commissioner Chris Simpson accepted.

The case involved an anaesthetic registered nurse employed by Ramsay Healthcare Australia, who submitted a flexible working arrangement request asking to work only on Monday to Thursday each week.

The arrangement would allow for longer rest periods following consecutive rostered and on-call shifts, she said, relying on her age (older than 55 years) as the relevant circumstance under section 65(1A) of the Fair Work Act...