Case

Hutchinson v Cleanco Queensland Ltd (2025)

An employee requested to work remotely every second week following a family decision to relocate to a different town because of schooling opportunities for his child. The employee wanted the flexible work arrangement to give him more time to help his son settle into a new school. Initially, the request was approved for a specified time.

Following the arrangement ending, the employee made another flexible work arrangement request – to work 1 week per month from home – specifying the need for the arrangement was to enable him to co-parent his school-aged children with his wife.

The employer refused the request due to operational concerns but proposed an alternative arrangement to the employee, being working from home for 2 weeks every 6 months, and purchasing personal, annual or long service leave when required.