Managing work-from-home, reduced hours and changed work patterns without creating unnecessary legal risk.
Working from home. Different start and finish times. Reduced hours. Changed workdays.
Flexible work requests are becoming a normal part of managing Australian workplaces, but approving every request may not always be practical for a business.
Employers can refuse eligible flexible work requests in appropriate circumstances, but a simple “this does not work for us” may not be enough.
Where the Fair Work Act applies, employers need to follow the required process, genuinely consider the employee’s circumstances, explore possible alternatives and be able to demonstrate reasonable business grounds for a refusal.
This practical webinar will help employers understand where they can draw the line on workplace flexibility while reducing the risk of disputes, Fair Work Commission proceedings and other employment law issues.
Designed for business owners, managers, HR professionals and decision-makers, the session will explore how to assess flexible work requests fairly while protecting productivity, staffing requirements, customer service and the operational needs of the business.
25 November 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM AEST
Online
Practical examples of when an employer may be able to refuse a request because it would:
Not every reason for wanting employees in the office will necessarily justify a refusal.
We will discuss how employers can distinguish between:
A flexible work request does not always have to result in a complete yes or no.
Explore practical alternatives including:
If a request genuinely cannot be accommodated, employers should be able to demonstrate why.
We will discuss:
