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A workplace complaints process required some "reasonably painful bureaucratic steps", but it didn't leave an aggrieved employee with no option other than to resign, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

Some of the steps "should not really have been necessary" and the employer's response was "not beyond criticism", but Commissioner Stephen Crawford found it took the matter seriously and acted promptly to try and resolve it.

The University of Sydney submissions officer resigned in March this year, then lodged a general protections dismissal dispute. But the employer objected, arguing he hadn't been dismissed.

The Commission heard that prior to resigning, the employee had emailed the employer's chief HR officer and other managers, raising serious allegations against his supervisor...