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A "bullish and intimidating" response to an employee's absence was just one example of an employer's unreasonable conduct, which ultimately forced him to resign, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

Commissioner Jennifer Hunt found that the employer's conduct, after the employee took two separate days off work due to injury and sickness, was "inexcusable", noting it "essentially wished to deprive [the employee] of his rights".

The Proheat Hydronic apprentice plumber quit in March this year, but subsequently made a general protections dismissal claim, arguing the employer's conduct forced him to resign.

The employer objected, maintaining he resigned voluntarily...