WRC recommendation does not favour worker in dispute over sick leave and dismissal

The Workplace Relations Commission did not recommend in favour of a worker in her dispute with an employer under the Industrial Relations Act. The recommendation was dated 26 June 2023. The worker said the general manager contacted her while she was on sick leave and that her sick leave was disclosed to a colleague. The employer said the contact was to check on her welfare and that it dismissed her for gross misconduct after an IT incident involving deleted files. The WRC found that she was treated fairly, did not use the internal processes offered to address her harassment concern, and was fairly dismissed following the IT issue. It also found nothing untoward in the manager’s welfare enquiries.