Hundreds of thousands of Australian office workers have scored a major win after the workplace tribunal handed down a landmark ruling giving them the right to request to work from home.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) secured the historic victory after the Fair Work Commission ruled a new work-from-home clause should be added to the Clerks – Private Sector Award, which covers hundreds of thousands of administrative employees nationwide.

For the first time, all workers covered by the award will be able to request to work from home, regardless of their personal circumstances.

ASU national secretary Emeline Gaske hailed the decision as a major step forward after workers fought back against business groups seeking to wind back workplace rights.

‘This is a huge step forward for workers’ rights in this country,’ she said.

‘For the first time, every worker covered by the Clerks Award has the right to ask to work from home, not just those specifically protected under the law, such as people with disabilities or carers.

‘That matters enormously for our professional and administrative members, who have been calling for this for years.

‘It gives workers more flexibility, particularly women, who are more likely to be balancing paid work with caring and other responsibilities.’

The union said the ruling gives workers more flexibility, particularly women, who are more likely to be balancing paid work with caring and other responsibilities

Hundreds of thousands of Australian office workers have scored a major win in the FWC

For the first time, all workers covered by the award will be able to request to work from home, regardless of their personal circumstances

Ms Gaske said the ruling was especially significant because it came despite powerful business lobby groups pushing for workers to trade away entitlements such as penalty rates and overtime in exchange for the ability to work from home.

‘Workers stood up, fought to keep their rights intact, and they’ve won,’ she said.