A recent AAT decision reminds employers that claims for
accidents at home can be brought by employees who are permitted or
encouraged (explicitly or implicitly) to work from home. In this
update we look at that decision and review two older decisions, all
of which explore the blurred line between the workplace and home.
Employers need to balance the challenge of increasing exposure to
claims on the one hand and the merits and benefits of flexible work
practices on the other.
Hargreaves and Telstra Corporation Limited [2011] AATA 417 (17
June 2011)
Dale Hargreaves worked for Telstra. Her role included campaign
management and reporting. Each week she worked two days from home
and three days in Telstra's city office. Telstra provided Ms
Hargreaves with equipment such as a laptop computer, cabling and a
mobile telephone. She had access to the internet and Telstra's
computer system, at Telstra's expense.
