If you’re over 55 and too tired to make it into the office, these two Fair Work decisions are required reading | Van Badham
News Source
•Tue, 13 Oct 2026 03:02:58 GMT
📰 What Happened
Two Fair Work Commission decisions about working from home have drawn attention. In July, the commission rejected a request from Steven Polak, a council worker over 55. He wanted to cut his office days from two to one, saying the commute made his fatigue worse. The commission sided with his employer's business needs.
Last week, a different case reached a different result. Michele Duffy, a 63-year-old student adviser, asked to work from home two days a week. The university refused, but the commission ordered one day at home anyway.
🔍 The Backstory
Columnist Van Badham says the two cases show that fatigue is finally being taken seriously. She notes that sleep problems are common among Australian adults. She says work has crept into private life, which is why the 'right to disconnect' law arrived in 2024.
Badham also points to changing work patterns. The average retirement age rose from about 53 in 2000 to 63.8 in 2024, and more older women now work than ever. She argues old management styles still judge workers by presence, not results.
🎯 Why It Matters
Many older workers juggle tiredness, care duties and long commutes. These rulings could affect whether you can ask to work from home without proving you are sick.
Two Fair Work Commission decisions about working from home have drawn attention. In July, the commission rejected a request from Steven Polak, a council worker over 55. He wanted to cut his office days from two to one, saying the commute made his fatigue worse. The commission sided with his employer's business needs.
Last week, a different case reached a different result. Michele Duffy, a 63-year-old student adviser, asked to work from home two days a week. The university refused, but the commission ordered one day at home anyway.
Columnist Van Badham says the two cases show that fatigue is finally being taken seriously. She notes that sleep problems are common among Australian adults. She says work has crept into private life, which is why the 'right to disconnect' law arrived in 2024.
Badham also points to changing work patterns. The average retirement age rose from about 53 in 2000 to 63.8 in 2024, and more older women now work than ever. She argues old management styles still judge workers by presence, not results.
Many older workers juggle tiredness, care duties and long commutes. These rulings could affect whether you can ask to work from home without proving you are sick.