By JONATHON HOWARD
LABOR candidate for the State seat of Noosa Mark Denham has slammed a Noosa business for what he believes was “unfair dismissal” after a local teenager was sacked prior to her six-month probation.
Mr Denham said he has concerns that the Fair Work rules could be handing employers the right to hire and fire an employee within the six-month probation period – without rhyme or reason.
Mr Denham said he spoke with the 19-year-old mother (name withheld) who was excited about starting her new career in the health sector.
“She had been working for her new employer for 10 weeks and she had just paid for her uniforms, that the employer said she had to buy,” Mr Denham said.
“Work was great, she enjoyed her new path in life and was happy to help out her employer when asked, including working some double shifts.
“But the other day she was about to start her rostered shift, when she was met by the boss with a letter stating that her position had been terminated – no warning and under the current Fair Work rules she has no ability to challenge this unjust sacking.”
Mr Denham said he took further issue with the sacking when the letter stated the young employee was not a “cultural fit” in the workplace, which is referring to the organisational culture of the business.
“Now she is out of a job, out of pocket for uniform, and can’t even protest about the unfair dismissal,” Mr Denham said.
Mr Denham said he wants greater support for young employees as unemployment rates, especially youth unemployment, continue to climb.
“Noosa has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the state and we have employers doing this to their employees,” he said.
“It’s not right and it’s not fair.”
Noosa Today has withheld both the name of the employer and employee as the matter continues with Fair Work.
