Putting The Westpac Working From Home Case In Perspective

Can employees really work from home if they want to? In a recent Fair Work case an employee won the right to work from home, but it turns out it's not that simple. It can only be requested under certain conditions and each case depends on the situation of the employee and the employer's reasons.

The recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision of Deputy President Roberts in Karlene Chandler v Westpac Banking Corporation [2025] FWC 3115 (Chandler) has garnered significant media coverage and some criticism from commentators as unreasonably prioritising the interests of employees over employers in relation to the contentious issue of working from home (WFH).

With respect, some of the commentary on Chandler has overstated the significance of the decision. While it is an interesting and noteworthy case, for employees and employers alike, it needs to be kept in perspective. In that regard, here are some observations for consideration.