WRC says airport worker’s paid suspension was reasonable

The WRC recommended that An Airport Search Unit Officer consider her dispute closed, finding that her paid suspension was reasonable based on the information available at the time. The recommendation was dated 24 June 2026. The dispute followed a 7 May 2025 incident in which a device the worker wore in a security-sensitive area was reported as a camera. An investigation established that it was a personal fan incapable of recording. She was suspended on pay pending the investigation, returned to work on 5 June 2025 and received no disciplinary sanction. The worker said the suspension and how it was carried out were unfair. The employer said it was a precaution to protect security while it investigated. The officer found the investigation followed fair procedures. Earlier engagement with the worker might have clarified matters sooner, but that shortcoming did not change the overall finding.