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ARTICLE · 20 JULY 2026

Work From Office Directive Thwarted By Flexible Work Arrangements Order

Gilchrist Connell
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Employers who require employees to work from the office, who have historically worked from home and have children, may find their efforts frustrated by successful applications for flexible work arrangements...

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Mark Curran
Mark Curran
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Employers who require employees to work from the office, who have historically worked from home and have children, may find their efforts frustrated by successful applications for flexible work arrangements under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)(FWA). This is illustrated by the decision of Laura Kliffen v Repeat Employment Services Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 1766.

Background

The relevant employee was employed as a customer experience and implementation manager working four days per week. The employer issued a direction requiring her to work in the office two days a week of her choice, in circumstances where she had historically worked from home.

The employee then made a request for flexible work arrangements under section 65 of the FWA seeking to:

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