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Despite concerns about her "seriously disrespectful" conduct, an employer has lost a dispute about converting an employee to a permanent role, with the Fair Work Commission finding it backed out of "unequivocal" commitments.

Deputy President Judith Wright acknowledged the employee's behaviour had the potential to undermine the employment relationship. But the employer also "acted poorly", which went "some way to explaining" her actions, she found.

The senior lecturer in the University of NSW's rural medicine and health faculty applied to the Commission to deal with a dispute related to fixed-term contract conversion.

The employee was hired on a fixed-term contract from 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2025. She claimed, however, that the employer committed to convert her to continuing employment after 12 months, if her performance was satisfactory...