Some employers are now realising they've "gone too far" in adding flexible work terms to their enterprise agreements, and rolling them back isn't going to be easy, a workplace relations specialist warns.
Too many employers are still trying to structure flexibility and remote work around their existing team organisation and leadership practices, when it should be the other way around, according to an advisor with 20 years' experience in the field.
Perceptions of productivity heavily influence WFH access, according to new research commissioned by the FWC, suggesting a role for HR in educating managers and ensuring equitable access to remote work opportunities.
The Fair Work Commission has shut down a flexible work dispute, finding the employee's evidence of a disability was "not credible", and there was no nexus between his circumstances and his stated need to work from home.
It was reasonable for an employer to refuse a flexible work request from an employee fleeing family and domestic violence, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
After defending its denial of a flexible work request on reasonable business grounds, an employer must now implement the arrangements sought, because its written refusal didn't satisfy the Fair Work Act's requirements.
An employee who believed she worked "efficiently and competently" has lost her adverse action claim, with the Federal Circuit Court finding she was lawfully sacked for her ongoing defiance of authority.
A Fair Work Commission member has expressed an opinion that an employee "simply does not want to work in the office", in questioning his reasons for seeking to work from home full time.
The Fair Work Commission can't resolve disputes about the termination of existing flexible working arrangements, under provisions regarding employees' right to make requests, it has confirmed in a new ruling.
Changes to a manager's work arrangements amounted to "reasonable give and take" in the employment relationship, and didn't force him to resign, the Fair Work Commission has found.
