Sunita Somvanshi
A Sydney currency trader sacked for secretly working from Singapore has won his unfair dismissal case. He still got no compensation. The Fair Work Commission ruling answers a question many remote workers ask: can you be fired for working overseas if you finish your tasks?
Charles Graham, a foreign exchange dealer, was dismissed in December 2025 by HIFX Australia, trading as Xe, after working from Singapore without approval. He had earlier asked to work from home, saying he was waiting for a plumber, when he was in Bali. His manager tracked his laptop's IP address to Singapore. The Fair Work Commission ruled on Wednesday, October 7, that the dismissal was unfair because the process was flawed, but found there was a valid reason for it. He received no compensation. The Fair Work Act requires the Commission to reduce compensation by an appropriate amount when misconduct contributed to a dismissal.
In this case, working overseas without approval was found to be a valid reason for dismissal. An employer's procedural mistakes can make a firing "unfair," but they did not bring a payout here. Before logging in from abroad, get written approval that covers tax, data security and any other rules that apply.
Why a Win Paid Nothing
Headlines said the worker "won." That skips the detail that matters most. A finding of unfair dismissal and a payout are two separate steps. The Commission first decides whether the sacking was harsh, unjust or unreasonable. It then decides on a remedy. Here, it found a valid reason for the dismissal even though the process was unfair. unfair-dismissal coverage
Working across borders can raise tax, data-security and licensing questions, depending on the country and the job. Employers and workers should get advice for their situation. Similar questions arise for employees in the US and UK, where the rules differ. cross-border work coverage
His employer found his location by tracing the IP address of his work laptop, according to reports of the hearing.
Why can an employee win an unfair dismissal claim but receive no compensation? Under the Fair Work Act, the Commission can find a sacking unfair if the employer's process was flawed, even where there was a valid reason. Compensation is assessed separately and must be reduced by an appropriate amount if the employee's misconduct contributed to the dismissal.
A Sydney trader won an unfair dismissal finding after being sacked for working from Singapore, but received no compensation. Workers should get written approval before working abroad. Check back for updates.
