Cancer survivor forced to resign from school after tussles over work-from-home arrangements wins S$20,000
The woman had originally been allowed to work from home two days a week to help her recovery but was suddenly told she had to work at the campus five days a week and that her medical documentation was inadequate.
A woman who had spent 17 years working as an administrative assistant in an international school in Singapore was forced to resign due to conflicts over her work-from-home arrangements following her battle with Stage 3 cancer. An Employment Claims Tribunal awarded the woman the maximum S$20,000 in compensation for the harm caused to her.
The tribunal found that her resignation was effectively a dismissal without proper cause, as she was forced to leave her job. She had been allowed to work from home two days a week during her recovery, but the school abruptly changed its policy and expected her to work five days a week once she returned. The woman claimed that the school's unwillingness to reasonably accommodate her medical needs violated two terms in her employment contract, including the duty to take reasonable care of employees' health and safety, and the duty of mutual trust and confidence.
The magistrate acknowledged that her cancer may have been in remission, but noted that chemotherapy and radiotherapy can have lasting side effects such as joint pains, reduced strength, and lingering fatigue. The woman was fit to return to work as long as she was given light duty, as recommended by her doctor and an occupational therapist.
However, the school revoked her work-from-home arrangement without just cause, citing its flexible working arrangements policy for educational support staff, which prohibited such arrangements during term time.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
