Business · Companies · 2 days ago
Sydney currency dealer wins unfair dismissal case but receives no compensation
Charles Graham, a Sydney-based foreign exchange dealer at currency company Xe, was dismissed after the company found he was logging in from Singapore.
Xe had refused his request to move there for a year, saying his job was based in Sydney and it was not licensed to operate in Singapore.
The company investigated his location when he was due back from leave in November 2025.
Graham said he had delayed returning because his partner became ill and that he planned to tell his manager, but Xe said he had not adequately explained why he kept his location secret.
He also said he had previously worked from Bali several times, but his manager told the commission she had not known he was overseas.
The Fair Work Commission found that hiding his location gave Xe a valid reason to dismiss him.
It nevertheless ruled that the dismissal was unfair because Xe did not follow a fair process, and Graham will receive no compensation.
Charles Graham, a Sydney-based foreign exchange dealer at Xe, was dismissed after the company found he had logged on to work from Singapore without disclosing his location.
The Fair Work Commission found there was a valid reason for the dismissal because Graham had deliberately concealed that he was overseas.
Commissioner Alana Matheson ruled that Xe had not followed a fair process because it did not fully explain the case against Graham or give him a proper chance to respond.
Graham won his unfair dismissal claim but will receive no compensation.
Graham said his partner became ill overseas and they had to delay returning to Australia; Xe said he had not adequately explained why he kept his location secret or provided enough evidence about his partner's condition.
- Who
- Charles Graham, Xe, and the Fair Work Commission
- What
- Graham won an unfair dismissal claim but was awarded no compensation.
- When
- The laptop location was traced on November 17, 2025; the commission's decision was published on Wednesday, according to the article.
- Where
- The work location was Singapore; the claim was heard by the Fair Work Commission in Sydney.
- Why
- The commission found Graham deliberately concealed his overseas location, but Xe failed to follow a fair dismissal process.
Charles Graham
Xe
Why Graham was working from Singapore
Charles Graham
Graham said his partner fell ill while they were overseas, delaying their return to Australia, and that he intended to notify his manager but was caught up with urgent work.
Xe
Xe said Graham had not adequately explained why he kept his location secret or provided enough evidence that his partner was too unwell to fly.
Whether the overseas work was authorised
Charles Graham
Graham argued he was unaware of Xe's policy on working overseas and said he had previously worked from Bali on five occasions.
Xe
Xe had refused his request to relocate to Singapore for a year, saying his role was Sydney-based and the company did not have a licence for Singapore. Graham's manager said she had not known he was overseas during his earlier Bali trips.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Employer
- Xe, a global currency company
- Overseas work location
- Singapore
- Date laptop location was traced
- November 17, 2025
- Requested relocation
- Graham asked to relocate to Singapore for a year; Xe refused
- Compensation
- None
What people are saying
I consider that (Mr Graham's) failure to disclose his location before he was caught working from Singapore was deliberate and amounted to dishonesty,
Morninggg, our mate should be online today, first day since his holiday so I will need your FBI skills,
plumber [was] coming around to sort out some recurring bathroom issues
Sources
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