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An employer has failed to overturn the reinstatement of an employee it sacked for s-xual harassment, despite a Fair Work Commission full bench agreeing that his dismissal was valid.

The employer's delay in taking action after becoming aware of the employee's conduct, along with the fact that the matter had largely been "dealt with" years earlier, meant there was no basis to disturb the finding that the dismissal was harsh, unjust and unreasonable, the bench said.

The University of Melbourne professor was summarily dismissed in December 2023 for serious misconduct.

This occurred after the employer substantiated allegations that between September 2019 and March 2021, the employee – then the acting dean of its science faculty – engaged in the "extended pursuit" of an unwelcome romantic relationship with a female subordinate and colleague, the faculty executive director...