A Fair Work Commission ruling on a WFH dispute could have massive impact on working parents
Paul Collins, a technical specialist at global software company InterSystems Australia, lodged an application with Fair Work seeking flexible working arrangements after attempts to reach a compromise with his employer failed.
He submitted a request in January to work from home every Wednesday and Thursday to care for his 8- and 10-year-old children and the need for a work and life balance.
Until late 2024, Mr Collins had been working remotely on both these days under a hybrid working model adopted by InterSystems following the Covid-19 pandemic.
In November that same year, the company announced it was ending this arrangement and staff would need to return to the office five days a week from February 2025.
Mr Collins' WFH request was denied, but InterSystems offered an alternate arrangement of one work-from-home day per week.
This was rejected and Mr Collins escalated the dispute to the FWC.
In her judgment on Monday, FWC deputy president Lyndall Dean said she was not satisfied Mr Collins had established the 'requisite nexus' between his responsibility as a parent and the change he was seeking in his work arrangements.
She said his written request 'merely expressed a preference to continue with a pre-existing pattern of remote work' and did not specify how working from home twice a week 'specifically supported or related to his parental responsibilities'.
The judgement comes as companies attempt to get people back into the office full time following the end of COVID restrictions.
During the federal election campaign, then opposition leader Peter Dutton wanted public servants in Canberra to return to the office, but walked the policy back following a backlash from the Albanese government and trade unions who believed the policy would negatively impact women.
Newly appointed opposition leader Sussan Ley has endorsed full time working from home arrangements for some working families if the need arises.
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