Working from home? Sydney trader fired after laptop gives away his Singapore getaway
A Sydney-based currency trader was fired after his employer discovered he was working from Singapore while claiming to be working from home. Although the Fair Work Commission ruled the firing was justified, it noted the company failed to follow proper dismissal procedures.
Why it matters
This case illustrates the complexities of remote work policies and the legal requirements for employers during termination processes.
SINGAPORE: A Sydney-based currency dealer was fired after he told his employer he was “working from home”, when he was actually still on holiday in Singapore.
That was not the first time Charles Graham took working from home to time-zone-defying lengths. He had also previously worked from Bali while telling his manager he was at home waiting for a plumber to fix “recurring bathroom issues”.
Graham won an unfair dismissal case on Oct 7. But, apart from four weeks’ worth of back pay, he walked away empty-handed.
Australia’s Fair Work Commission determined that he did, in fact, lie because he was aware he was violating office policies, The Guardian reported. His company – HIFX Australia, trading as Xe – erred, however, in not following due process in dismissing him, the commission found.
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