Question: Can I refuse a request for flexible working arrangement on “reasonable business grounds”?
Answer:Yes, you can if the reasons for your denial of the request meets the definition of ‘reasonable business grounds’. Some examples of reasonable business grounds include;
- the request being too expensive for the business;
- the employer not able to make changes to the current arrangement to meet the request;
- it is not practical to meet the request;
- the request will make the employee and the business less efficient; and/or
- reduced productivity will affect customer service significantly.
The employee can go to Fair Work to seek assistance if they are not satisfied with the outcome if the employment agreement allows for this. However, an employer cannot terminate an employee if they request the decision to be reviewed.
