The HR/IR Solutions Guide to Working From Home
Working from home is a relatively recent phenomenon, predominantly discovered due to the necessities of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the world predominantly returning to pre-Covid rules, employers are wondering about their obligations to continue a working-from-home scheme.
Your obligations according to the Fair Work Ombudsman are to allow the reasonable application for some employees to be granted flexible working arrangements. Such employees are:
- Parents of school-aged children
- Carers
- Employees with a disability
- Employees 55 years or older
- Employees experiencing family or domestic violence
- Employees providing care or assistance to a member of their household or immediate family who is experiencing family or domestic violence
The above does not mean that your business cannot offer flexible working arrangements to other staff members. It is, however, important to specify the conditions that will allow for flexible working arrangements in your employee handbook or policies. Such a policy should detail what flexible working arrangements are appropriate when they can be accessed by which staff members.
