Loading Mr Porter said arrangements for working from home needed to be by agreement with employers and if working from home was not an option this could include taking some form of paid or unpaid leave. "Naturally, each workplace is different and employers and employees are encouraged to work together to come to arrangements that suit the individual workplace," he said. More than 900,000 Australian businesses have registered their interest in accessing JobKeeper payments and 275,000 businesses had already filled in formal applications for the scheme. Businesses have overwhelmingly supported the JobKeeper package but some business owners have warned employees are seeking to abuse the scheme.

Loading One owner of a hospitality business on the New South Wales south coast described how some staff members didn't want to work but had requested JobKeeper payments. The business owner, who wished to remain anonymous because she feared retribution, said her business which employed 50 staff would struggle to pay casual workers who used to earn $400 a fortnight the JobKeeper amount of $1,500 a fortnight while waiting for reimbursement from the government. "One of our young casuals who does 10 hours a week said 'I am entitled to it, go to the bank and get my money'," she said. "It’s not money for jam. What are we breeding in young ones?" Fast Food franchise owner Suresh Patel said staff were not incentivised to work as they knew they would receive the same amount through JobKeeper regardless of how much they worked.

"The root of the problem is that because all employees get the same amount regardless of how many hours they actually work, staff don’t want to work extra hours," Mr Patel said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Another business owner posted on the Australian Tax Office's website asking for guidance as to whether staff were eligible for JobKeeper if they refused to work altogether. "We have staff who are refusing to attend work saying they are apprehensive of health risks," the business owner posted. "We are in hairdressing and are abiding by all laws and restrictions. Are they eligible for JobKeeper payments through us if they simply refuse a directive to work?" Small business ombudsman Kate Carnell said instances of employees requesting JobKeeper payments and refusing to work were "at the margins".