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"Any reasonable adult worker" should understand that using offensive language to describe a CEO and other employees constitutes misconduct, a tribunal has noted in dismissing a sacked employee's application for reinstatement.

This was not a case where objectionable language was the common standard in a particular workplace; rather, the employee expressed no regret about referring to the CEO as a "massive c-nt", commented Queensland Industrial Relations Commission Deputy President John Merrell.

The Brisbane City Council bus driver claimed he was unfairly dismissed because his alleged misconduct was the result of a work-related psychiatric injury.

He also claimed his sacking was a disproportionate response to his misconduct, given the nature of the allegations against him and his 17-year tenure with the Council...