One day's delay turned a routine contract closure into a costly court order

One day. That was all that separated B.I.C. Services Pty Ltd from avoiding a redundancy payout, in a case decided on 8 April 2026.

The Industrial Court of New South Wales ordered the Sydney cleaning company to pay former part-time cleaner Malinee Kalapakdee $4,304.37, after finding her employment had ended on 15 December 2024 and that an offer of alternative work the following day came too late to change that outcome.

Kalapakdee had been employed by B.I.C. Services as a part-time cleaner since 22 July 2022, working at a client site at 1 Farrer Place, Sydney. On 12 November 2024, the company's People and Culture Manager, Hernando Cabrera, notified her in writing that cleaning services at the site would cease. The letter stated: "Should we fail to relocate your services, please consider this letter as your formal notification that your position will no longer be available with BIC Consolidated as at the date outlined above." That date was 15 December 2024.

No alternative work was offered before or on that date. Kalapakdee worked her last shift on 13 December 2024 and was paid her accrued entitlements, with no redundancy payment included.

At 3.27pm on 16 December 2024, she received an offer of alternative employment at a Martin Place worksite, same hours and days as her original role but with a 30-minute earlier start and finish. A second offer followed on 30 December 2024, for a South Eveleigh site...

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