An ANZ Bank manager who claimed he was effectively forced to resign after the bank turned down his request to work from home has had his case examined by Australia's Fair Work Commission, which found a different explanation for his departure. The case highlights ongoing tensions between employers pushing for a return to office-based work and employees seeking flexible arrangements, and underscores how workplace tribunals scrutinise claims of constructive dismissal.

The man, named in reports as Balasubramanian, argued that ANZ's rejection of his remote-working request left him with no option but to quit, a scenario that could have supported a constructive dismissal claim. However, Fair Work Commission investigators concluded that his resignation stemmed from a separate cause rather than the bank's handling of his WFH request, undermining his case. The ruling serves as a reminder that tribunals will look closely at the full circumstances surrounding a resignation before accepting claims that an employee was pushed out.