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Advertising for new roles didn't undermine an employer's genuine redundancy defence to a people and culture officer's unfair dismissal claim, the Fair Work Commission has found, in rejecting that any of those positions were suitable for her redeployment.

Deputy President Lyndall Dean accepted that when recruitment and staffing company Aris Zinc Group closed around 40% of its operations due to a market downturn, its managing director absorbed the employee's HR duties and her role was no longer required.

The employee worked in a "dual role" three days per week, operating as a senior consultant for two of those days, and as P&C officer on the third. She was informed in June 2024 that her position was becoming redundant as the employer's reduced size meant a dedicated P&C role was no longer viable.

She claimed unfair dismissal, contending her redundancy wasn't genuine because she wasn't consulted about it, nor was she provided with opportunities for redeployment...