Log in or become a subscriber

A supervisor was unfairly sacked for bullying and timekeeping fraud, the Fair Work Commission has ruled, finding his employer denied him an opportunity to defend himself.

Deputy President Ian Masson acknowledged the employer wanted to "act decisively" due to its workplace health and safety concerns, but found it failed to give the supervisor an opportunity to explain his conduct.

Building company Hill and Muller sacked the leading hand carpenter in February this year for serious misconduct, and he subsequently claimed unfair dismissal.

The employer's director told the Commission he'd originally agreed the parties would "amicably part ways", after he'd become aware via an Instagram post that the supervisor was performing work for another builder.

After that discussion, however, an employee complained that the supervisor had been bullying him and damaging his tools...