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Expressing unwillingness to work with a certain manager amounted to refusing a lawful direction, and was a valid reason to sack an employee, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

The fact the employee found his manager "unlikeable" wasn't a sufficient justification to refuse to work with him, Deputy President Alan Colman said.

The cleaner, who had autism, started working for cooling and heating company CAG Management Services in March 2025, as part of its disability employment initiative.

He was sacked after walking off the job in October, following an incident in which he claimed the manager swore at him for wearing earbuds while he worked. At a subsequent meeting, he told the company's GM that he wouldn't work with the manager...