Media releases

The ruling found Westpac acted unlawfully when it denied a workers’ request to work from home.

In a letter, the union warns that employers could be breaching workplace law if they continue to reject flexible work requests without proper consideration, consultation or justification.

The correspondence comes following the case of FSU member Karlene Chandler, who won her right to work from home full time after Westpac failed in its obligations under the Fair Work Act.

The bank’s failures include not responding within 21 days, not engaging genuinely with Karlene’s request and not providing her specific reasons for refusing it.

The FSU says this ruling sets a precedent that will have far-reaching consequences across the finance sector, where many employers have sought to impose blanket return-to-office mandates without consideration for workers’ individual circumstances.

The union’s letter calls on bank leadership to immediately review all rejected flexible work requests from the past year, confirm they now comply with the Act in full and ensure all future refusals are lawful, transparent and evidence-based.

The FSU says it expects written confirmation from each employer acknowledging their obligations and outlines how they intend to bring policies into line with the laws.

Finance Sector Union National Assistant Secretary Nicole McPherson said:

“We’ve told every major bank to get their own house in order — fix rejected work-from-home requests, comply with the law, and stop acting like flexibility is a privilege.

“This ruling makes clear that employers can’t hide behind buzzwords like ‘collaboration’ or ‘culture’ to deny flexible work.

“Westpac broke the law when it ignored its own worker’s rights and we’re putting every other bank on notice that they can’t do the same.

“While the big banks cut thousands of jobs, offshore work and replace people with AI, they’re still trying to force remaining staff back into offices under the guise of teamwork. It’s hypocrisy at its worst.

“Our members have proven they can deliver from home. Flexibility is not a perk, it’s a legal right and we’ll keep fighting to make sure every worker in finance can exercise it.”

Media contact: Kate Shuttleworth 0447418726, [email protected]