Employment

An e-commerce company did not have a valid reason for dismissing an employee who worked from home on a mandatory in-office day and must pay him $26,496 in compensation, the Fair Work Commission has found.

A former senior media advisor for the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has sued the watchdog, alleging she was fired after complaining about bullying behaviour by a senior employee. 

A former National Rugby League referee has lost his unfair dismissal lawsuit alleging he suffered bullying and victimisation, with a judge finding the league did not terminate his employment but “acted passively” in letting his contract term end.

Increased obligations to address and prevent sexual harassment passed in late 2022 have left some employers confused about their obligations and, in some cases, eager to fire employees before issuing a warning, says Dentons’ new employment partner Edmund Burke.

A court fight has broken out between a vaccine developer and South Australia’s Flinders University over the supply of mice and access to a lab at the college, with the professor’s lawyer declaring the battle “literally a matter of life and death”.

Aldi is seeking to have a class action alleging it systematically underpaid workers across Australia to the tune of $150 million summarily dismissed, after claiming it was served with a “bad pleading”. 

Atomos’ former US-based CEO — who was fired after she failed to relocate to Melbourne — has lost her fight to stay the video technology company’s lawsuit, with a judge finding the dispute over a bridging loan for the international move should be decided under Australian law.

Gaming giant Aristocrat is suing its head of design for alleged intellectual property infringement and has secured orders restraining him from using or disclosing any of thousands of company files he is accused of copying.

A former Commonwealth Bank manager alleging he was fired by the bank after raising concerns about being overworked says he was told “the job is the job” after a period of stress-related leave.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has brought proceedings against three United Petroleum-branded outlets in Tasmania and South Australia, alleging they underpaid migrant workers by more than $26,000.