An Australian bank employee has won the right to permanent telecommuting in court, as more and more companies in Australia are calling for workers to return to their offices.

The Australian Labor Court, whose decision in the case is being closely watched in Australia, ruled in favor of Carleen Chandler, who challenged her employer, Westpac, for requiring her to work from the office two days a week.

The decision, which was posted on the tribunal’s website, said Westpac had allowed Chandler to work remotely, but earlier this year reversed its decision.

Chandler has worked part-time in the bank’s loan department for 23 years.

Westpac is reviewing the court’s decision, a bank spokesman said, adding that the return to the office environment was intended to “to ensure meaningful collaboration between teams while simultaneously providing flexibility for telecommuting.”

The financial sector in Australia is moving towards bringing its employees back to the office, but the transition is slow at retail banks with hybrid working arrangements popular.

Staff in investment banks typically work more from the office than their counterparts in retail banks.

Chandler claimed she lives outside Sydney and it takes almost two hours to get to a Westpac office.

The court order states that a Westpac manager told Chandler that “teleworking is not a substitute for childcare”.

The tribunal found that there was no good reason for Westpac to refuse Chandler’s request to telecommute.

The decision of this court may be appealed.