Log in or become a subscriber

The Fair Work Commission has ruled a remote employee who ignored directives not to work during a shut-down period, then didn't log on for two weeks, was justly sacked.

On 22 December last year, the Mercer data collection client service officer received an email from his manager wishing him a safe Christmas and New Year break while the office was closed.

The employee had only recently returned from leave and said he planned to work from home as usual. But his manager said he was required to take annual leave or, if it was exhausted, leave without pay.

After the employee replied, "I won't be taking any leave during this office closure period and will be working full time from home as per usual", Mercer's lead HR manager emailed him to reiterate he wasn't able to work during a shutdown period and must take leave...