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'Utterly bizarre': Prison officer sacked for allegedly going AWOL wins job back

Summary

A prison officer who was dismissed after being accused of going AWOL to Australia for 18 months won her job back. The officer had requested a career break in 2018 because of personal stresses, including coming out as gay at work and the death of her father‑in‑law, and was refused. She was taken off payroll after exceeding her paid sick leave limit and remained absent into 2020. The employer sent letters demanding medical certificates and later sent a dismissal plan to the supervising department, which approved it. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unfair, citing the officer's blemish‑free disciplinary record and the employer's failure to follow fair procedures. The officer was re‑engaged as a prison officer on 24 April 2023, with her dismissal period treated as unpaid suspension.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Utterly bizarre': Prison officer sacked for allegedly going AWOL wins job back. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• July 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2018 Other
• March 2019 Other
• April 2021 Other
• September 2020 Other
• 24 April 2023 Other
• 16 July 2021 Other
• 2023-05-09 Publication

Why: The complainant told the tribunal said she had been looking for a career break in 2018 because of "personal stresses" stemming from "difficulties" as coming out as gay at work as a prison officer and the death of her wife's father. CNI source report

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report