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An absent employee did not abandon his employment, the Fair Work Commission has found, but rather his employer showed a "troubling and inexcusable disinterest" in his welfare prior to sacking him.

Deputy President Ian Masson found the employee had enquired about whether he remained employed, however the employer "simply 'invited' his resignation... an 'invitation' to which [the employee] did not respond".

In unfair dismissal proceedings, the Commission heard the Care Park parking patrol officer was hit by a car in a Launceston carpark while issuing a parking ticket in November 2024, and hasn't returned to work since.

He filed a workers' compensation claim and started receiving weekly payments, however in December he was charged by the police over the carpark incident (for causing a traffic hazard as a pedestrian)...