Even winning doesn't erase the shadow of a 48-hour gap between disclosure and dismissal

Two days after receiving a doctor's letter about an employee's injuries, the employer terminated his position. Even a court that dismissed the worker's claim couldn't ignore that timing.

Glenn Ashley's case, decided February 9, 2026, by Victoria's County Court, demonstrates how suspicious timing can haunt employers long after they've been vindicated on the merits.

Ashley worked as a business development manager for Shine On, a lighting company, when he collided with an excavator bucket on the Geelong Ring Road on March 18, 2022. He returned to work the following Monday and continued full-time for the next 15 months, seeing physiotherapists and psychologists while managing back, neck, shoulder and knee pain.

His employer, Stefan Manolidis, issued a performance warning in May 2023 citing missed targets and poor client follow-up. On June 17, 2023, Ashley's doctor sent a letter detailing work restrictions due to his injuries. The redundancy letter arrived June 19.

Ashley argued his dismissal stemmed from the injuries. Manolidis insisted business pressures drove the decision. The company had suffered a significant downturn due to legislative changes affecting government lighting schemes. Twelve employees lost their jobs simultaneously. The business later collapsed into liquidation with debts including approximately $5.2 million to Westpac Bank.

The court never ruled on the redundancy's...

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