Resolved complaint (226) about disability and assistance animal discrimination and and victimisation in employment

About the complaint

The complainant worked as a customer service officer with the respondent freight management company. He alleged the company declined his request to bring his assistance dog to the workplace to help him manage anxiety and depression. He alleged that after this, the company did not provide him with adequate training and terminated his employment one month after he started. He said the company told him it was terminating his employment due to communication issues, but had not raised concerns about this with him before.

The company advised it declined the complainant’s request to bring an assistant dog to work on operational grounds, as the presence of a dog may adversely impact its quality assurance licences and certifications. The company acknowledged it could have been more proactive in trying to identify other adjustments to accommodate the complainant’s disability. The company said it terminated the complainant’s employment because he was unable to perform the role.

The complaint was resolved by conciliation with an agreement that the company write to the complainant apologising for his experience and pay him $35,000 as general damages. The company also undertook to deliver training to managers on their responsibilities to staff with disability under discrimination laws.

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