When the group chat goes quiet, so does the job, Fair Work confirms
A polite Mandarin message and a quiet exit from a WeChat group were enough to constitute dismissal, the Fair Work Commission ruled on 5 May 2026.
The decision in Ms Ching Wen Su v Ojt 399 Pty Ltd, handed down by Commissioner Clarke in Melbourne, centres on a worker at a store trading under the Molly Tea bubble tea brand. Ms Su lodged her application under section 365 of the Fair Work Act 2009 on 24 November 2025, claiming she had been dismissed in circumstances involving a contravention of Part 3-1 of the Act. Her employer disagreed, arguing she had simply stopped nominating shifts.
The story turns on a single message. On 29 October 2025, Ms Su's supervisor sent her a note in Mandarin that, once interpreted, included this passage: "After careful consideration we believe that the current arrangement may not suit you or match with your style in order to enable both you and the team to develop in a more comfortable environment. We plan to terminate this collaboration starting from November 3rd."
The note thanked her for her efforts and wished her success finding a more suitable platform. When Ms Su asked what she had done wrong, her supervisor replied that it was not about anything specific, just differences in working style.
Somewhere between 30 and 31 October 2025, Ms Su met with the store manager, Mr Khong. Her account and his diverged. She said he told her he would speak with the shift supervisor about...
QUEENSLAND— A nurse in Australia has been formally reprimanded after admitting he submitted forged documents to Qantas (QF) in an attempt to secure a refund for a non-refundable airline ticket. Th...