A single line of automated payroll text sent this casual worker straight to the Commission
A casual worker who took an automated payslip notation as proof he had been sacked has lost his general protections bid before the Fair Work Commission.
In a decision handed down on 14 May 2026, Commissioner Matheson ruled that Shahab Rezaei was never actually dismissed by labour hire firm Specialised Shutdown Support — even though his payslip plainly stated his employment had ended on 31 July 2025 (Shahab Rezaei v Specialised Shutdown Support Pty Ltd, David Goodes, Luke Archer [2026] FWC 1715).
The story began on 26 June 2025, when Rezaei was hired as a casual Work Management Specialist and sent to a mining client's site on 4 July. He lasted four days. The host employer wanted someone fluent in SAP management software, and Rezaei was not. He was pulled off site and flown home.
What followed was, in the employer's own words, a "large miscommunication." The company apologised, arranged a half-day of SAP training on 11 July, and rostered Rezaei for upcoming shifts. Those shifts were later cancelled. On 29 July, Rezaei emailed asking for between $22,000 and $25,500 in compensation for lost hours, adding that he wanted the matter sorted before being considered for more work. The same day, a manager tried calling and texting him. Rezaei did not call back.
Then came the payslip. On 12 August, Rezaei received pay documentation showing zero hours worked and a line reading "Employment Ended:...
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