Unfair Dismissal
Decisions on unfair dismissal claims — reinstatement, compensation, and procedural fairness.
42 unfair dismissal decisions on file. Plain-English summaries with links to the original judgment. Ask the AI advisor about your situation — Plus members get full case-law citations in answers.
Peymani v Posh N Polished Pty Ltd
[2026] FCA 560 · Federal Court
Lida Peymani was employed by Posh N Polished Pty Ltd as a salon manager and cosmetic tattooist from September 2024, on a salary of $81,000 plus commission. In May 2025, she sent her employer a written proposal requesting…
Turner v Chandler Macleod Group Limited (Costs)
[2026] FCA 458 · Federal Court
Turner, who represented himself (a litigant in person), brought proceedings against Chandler Macleod Group Limited under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). After the substantive matter was resolved, Chandler Macleod applied t…
Reeve v Fair Work Commission
[2026] FCA 368 · Federal Court
The applicant, Reeve, brought an interlocutory application in the Federal Court of Australia seeking the recusal of a decision-maker at the Fair Work Commission. Reeve argued that there was either actual bias or apprehen…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-03-25-hoppers-trailer-pty-ltd-cn-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Hoppers Trailer Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based trailer manufacturer, and its sole director, Gurpinder Singh, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a failure to comply with a Compliance No…
Liebenberg v IP Australia
[2026] FCA 190 · Federal Court
Ms Liebenberg brought a claim against IP Australia, arguing she had been constructively dismissed under section 386(1)(b) of the Fair Work Act 2009. Constructive dismissal occurs when an employee resigns because their em…
Turner v Chandler Macleod Group Limited
[2026] FCA 139 · Federal Court
Turner brought a claim in the Federal Court of Australia against Chandler Macleod Group Limited and various other respondents. The case came before the court on applications by the respondents for summary judgment and to…
Grofski v Peabody Energy Australia PCI Mine Management Pty Ltd (No 2)
[2026] FCA 124 · Federal Court
The applicant, Grofski, brought a claim against Peabody Energy Australia PCI Mine Management Pty Ltd under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). During the proceedings, Grofski made an interlocutory application (a procedural ste…
Gussen v Swinburne University of Technology
[2026] FCA 39 · Federal Court
Dr Gussen brought proceedings against Swinburne University of Technology involving matters under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). During those proceedings, he made an interlocutory application in the Federal Court seeking t…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-01-16-rapid-plumbing-group-cn-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Rapid Plumbing Group Pty Ltd, a Western Sydney plumbing company, and its sole director, Scott Mahboub. A young worker was employed as a plumber by Rapid Plumbing…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-07-17-kassiou-construction-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Kassiou Constructions Pty Ltd, a residential building and construction company based in Winnellie, Darwin, and its director, Ilias Kassiou, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fai…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-05-12-veens-ligitation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Veens Group Pty Ltd, a housing construction company based in Harrington Park, Sydney, and its sole director, Dasi Shi. A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-04-04-hoppers-trailer-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against Hoppers Trailer Pty Ltd, a Melbourne trailer manufacturer, and its sole director, Gurpinder Singh. A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance Notice in August 2023 af…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-03-27-newtown-and-enmore-frac-investigations-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting surprise inspections of 20 fast food outlets, restaurants, and cafés in Newtown and Enmore, Sydney. The inspections began on March 26, 2025. Inspectors are interviewing managers and …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-03-17-ips-holdings-nsw-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against IPS Holdings NSW Pty Ltd, a building and construction company based in Wollongong, and its sole director, Steven Sonnleitner. The investigation began after a wor…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-12-19-lizzy-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Lizzy Hair Design Pty Ltd, a hairdressing business based in Plumpton, New South Wales, and its former director, Sharon Xuereb, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fair Work Ombuds…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-12-18-esr-group-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties and back-pay orders against ESR Group Pty Ltd, formerly operating 'Essential Motor Body Smash Repairs' in Seven Hills, and its manager, Paul Silvestro. The company failed to comp…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-12-18-abmeng-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
ABMENG Pty Ltd, an instrument calibration company based in Queensland with operations in Melbourne and Perth, and its sole director, Jay Parker, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company fa…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-11-25-p49-collingwood-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
P49 Collingwood Pty Ltd, which operated 'Project 49' in Collingwood, and its sole director, Rocco Esposito, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after a worker…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-10-02-landhaus-wines-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action against The Landhaus Estate Wines Pty Ltd and its managing director, John Jaunutis. This followed a request for assistance from a former sales representative who worked for …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-20-oaky-creek-meu-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties against the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) and five former union officials for intimidating and threatening conduct at the Oaky Creek North coal mine in Queensland. This occurred …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-18-om-shiva-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Om Shiva Foods Pty Ltd, trading as Wulagi Supermarket in Darwin, and its sole director Vinay Madasu, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into und…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-08-29-downings-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against Downings Pty Ltd, formerly operating Fremantle Pharmacy in Fremantle, and its sole director, Joseph Lenny. A pharmacist worked for the company from 2010 to 2023, ini…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-07-09-cfmeu-yatala-prison-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and three officials, Wyatt Raymount, Travis Brook, and Desmond Savage, have been penalised for unlawful conduct at a construction site in Adelaide. The site…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-07-02-art-of-hair-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against The Art of Hair–Bateau Bay Pty Ltd, Cheri Rance, and Nelvin Lal, operators of a hairdressing salon in Bateau Bay, New South Wales. The action follows a request f…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-25-job-ads-crackdown-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has issued 151 infringement notices (fines) to employers since March 2023 for posting job advertisements with illegally low pay rates. One example involved a hospitality business advertising…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-05-85-degrees-franchisor-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against 85 Degrees Coffee Australia Pty Ltd, the franchisor of the '85 Degrees' brand in Australia. The case involved nine workers employed at eight franchisee-operated outlets i…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-02-21-workersweb-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action against Workersweb Pty Ltd, trading as TRP Physiotherapy & Sports Injury, which operates clinics in Fairfield, Homebush, and Wentworthville, Sydney. The action followed a re…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-02-13-la-la-bar-group-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties against Keri Taiaroa, a former director and shareholder of six La La Bar Group companies, Matthew Sanger, former general manager of those companies, Nicholas Accounting Managemen…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-01-05-krc-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has taken legal action against KRC Pty Ltd, which operates The Colonel's Son café in Black Rock, Melbourne, and its manager, Rishi Chaudhari. The action follows a request for assistance from a for…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-10-31-upper-esb-second-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against Upper East Side Bondi Pty Ltd, a former Bondi bar and restaurant, and its former director, Julia Rose Gelonese. This followed a request for assistance from a worker and i…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-28-brownport-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Brownport Almonds Pty Ltd, trading as Bright Light, a large almond grower and processor in Hattah, Victoria, has back-paid over $500,000 to 197 current and former employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after rec…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-25-cfmmeu-central-energy-towers-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) and two former officials, Andrew Blakeley and Beau Seiffert, were taken to court by the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC). The…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-25-cepu-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (CEPU) faced legal action from the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC). The ca…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-21-green-vic-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman commenced legal action against Green Vic Pty Ltd, a construction company in Melbourne. The investigation began after a worker, who held roles as Finishes Foreman and Project Maintenance Manager be…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-13-rainbow-wholefoods-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Rainbow Wholefoods Pty Ltd, a health food retailer based in Lismore, northern NSW, has been penalised for failing to pay compensation to two unfairly dismissed workers. A manager and a shop assistant, employed since 2015…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-26-cfmmeu-boggo-road-appeal-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) and two of its organisers, Andrew Blakeley and Luke Gibson, were taken to court by the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) in 20…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-25-mehtaab-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Mehtaab Group, a Melbourne-based painting company trading as Paint Splash, and its sole director, Vikramjeet Singh Khalsa. The company dismissed an Indian international student employ…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-01-17-cfmmeu-constitution-place-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) and three of its officials were taken to court by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) for unlawful picketing at a Canberra bui…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-12-02-anonymous-reports-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has received over 90,000 anonymous tip-offs since 2016, with nearly 13,000 in 2021-22. These reports help the FWO monitor workplaces and create education resources. One cupcake business was …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-09-15-inner-west-melbourne-food-precincts-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting surprise inspections of approximately 30 restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets in Melbourne's inner west, including Footscray, West Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, Newport, and Wi…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-06-20-riddhi-siddhi-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Riddhi Siddhi Pty Ltd, which operates a fast food outlet and commercial kitchen in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, and its director, Ruchika Sharma. A Nepalese visa holder, employed as a …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-04-12-kids-academy-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Kids Academy Hope Island Pty Ltd, formerly operating a Gold Coast childcare centre, has been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed the company's failure to comply with three Compliance Notices …