A workplace tribunal has put the brakes on the working from home revolution after knocking back a human resources adviser’s request to work “fully remotely” from interstate so she could relocate with her partner.

The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission upheld Queensland Health’s position that the “in-person touch” was still a key part of HR’s job and the need to sometimes be on-site at short notice made working far away unsustainable, despite the adviser doing her work entirely remotely since the start of COVID-19 more than 18 months ago.