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An employer's response to complaints about a "close personal relationship" between employees was "far too informal", but it didn't amount to a constructive dismissal, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

The payroll team lead at Thiess claimed he was forced to resign in January this year after a deficient investigation into his relationship with a subordinate "left him to deal with the fall out", despite none of the allegations being substantiated.

But the employer objected to the team leader's general protections claim, arguing he resigned "after careful consideration" and after obtaining a new job.

The Commission heard that in mid-2023, staff raised concerns about a "possible conflict of interest" between the team leader and the subordinate; they said he showed favouritism towards the subordinate and they expressed "general discomfort" over what they interpreted as a "close personal relationship" between the pair...