The two common words Aussie bosses should no longer use to force workers back into the office - or risk breaking the law
Bosses in Australia's financial sector have been put on notice over their WFH policies following a landmark Fair Work Commission decision - with the Finance Sector Union warning that excuses like 'collaboration' or 'culture' will no longer cut it.
The union has written to bosses asking them to review their policies, reminding them they could be breaking the law by rejecting requests without proper justification.
'We've told every major bank to get their own house in order. Fix rejected work-from-home requests, comply with the law, and stop acting like flexibility is a privilege,' FSU National Assistant Secretary Nicole McPherson said.
'Westpac broke the law when it ignored its own worker's rights and we're putting every other bank on notice that they can't do the same.
'While the big banks cut thousands of jobs, offshore work and replace people with AI, they're still trying to force remaining staff back into offices under the guise of teamwork. It's hypocrisy at its worst.
'Our members have proven they can deliver from home. Flexibility is not a perk, it's a legal right and we'll keep fighting to make sure every worker in finance can exercise it.'
Ms McPherson continued: 'This ruling makes clear that employers can't hide behind buzzwords like "collaboration" or "culture" to deny flexible work.
'Westpac broke the law when it ignored its own workers' rights and we're putting every other bank on notice that they can't do the same.
FSU National Assistant Secretary Nicole McPherson says major banks must 'fix rejected work-from-home requests, comply with the law, and stop acting like flexibility is a privilege'
Karlene Chandler (pictured) won a landmark Fair Work case against Westpac
'Those employees can now refer to the (Westpac) decision to support their request, which the FSU intends to do when supporting our members.'
Westpac worker Karlene Chandler requested to WFH so she could care for her two six-year-old children, including taking them to and from school.
Westpac knocked that back, along with a separate offer for Ms Chandler to work from a local bank branch in Bowral for two days a week, rather than the corporate office in Sydney.
The commission found the bank didn't respond to her request within 21 days, failed to genuinely engage with her, and did not provide specific reasoning behind the decision.
Westpac chief executive Anthony Miller defended its policy.
'We have one of the most flexible work from home policies in the marketplace,' he said on Monday.
'We are going after finding that balance for our people; I think we've got that right. I don't need, or feel the need, to change that particular setting.'
But Ms McPherson labelled the banks 'hypocrites' for cutting jobs and offshoring work while simultaneously demanding workers be physically in their offices.
