Treatment of subordinates deemed serious misconduct in FWC ruling

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) recently dealt with an unfair dismissal claim involving allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct, including bullying, intimidation, and derogatory language directed at subordinates and female colleagues.

The worker argued that management was trying to push him out of his job and had fabricated complaints against him. He claimed he was suffering from stress due to the workplace environment and filed his own bullying application against several managers, maintaining he had never treated subordinates inappropriately or used derogatory language.

The case highlights tensions between conflicting workplace narratives—with a supervisor claiming victimisation while subordinates described a hostile work environment. The worker's position of authority over younger employees became a pivotal factor in the FWC's examination of the case.

Workplace conduct issues emerge

The dismissed worker was a 41-year-old qualified diesel mechanic employed as a leading hand at a rural farming equipment business. He supervised several younger employees at the employer's workshop in Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, allocating work and overseeing their activities.

Complaints about the worker's behaviour included allegations he referred to female administrative staff as "the bitches upstairs" and "service bitches," intimidated subordinates who made complaints against him, and created what witnesses...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxNWUw1b3JIZlI2YldXeXlkZDVT...