Claiming to seek a flexible work arrangement due to a child's needs was "somewhat misleading", the Fair Work Commission has commented, in dismissing an employee's dispute over a rejected request.
While accepting an employer was entitled to issue a return-to-office directive, the Fair Work Commission has nonetheless ordered it to grant an exemption to an employee who requested to keep working remotely.
Employees must establish a clear nexus between their obligations as parents of school-age children and their desired working arrangements, rather than simply rely on their parenting status, if they expect to win disputes over flexible work refusals, a new ruling shows.
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.
Employees' expectations around flexibility and hybrid working are creating "some interesting issues" in redundancy-related disputes, an employment lawyer says.
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.
When an employer receives a complaint or becomes aware of a conduct issue, it's not always appropriate to go down a traditional disciplinary path. This HR Daily Premium Q&A will discuss alternative options and how to determine which is best in various circumstances.
Recent constructive dismissal claims highlight the risks involved in accepting a resignation from an employee who is experiencing mental health issues. Watch this Q&A to understand the rulings' implications for all employers.
