Resolved complaint (252) about association with a person with a disability and family responsibility discrimination in employment
Learn how a complaint (252): association with a person with a disability and family responsibility discrimination in employment — resolved by conciliation.
Summary
- Year: 2025
- Relevant Act: Disability Discrimination Act; Sex Discrimination Act
- Grounds: Associate; Family responsibilities
- Area(s): Employment
- Settlement terms:
- Apology - private
- Compensation
- Settlement amount: $5,000
About the complaint
The complainant had been employed by the respondent company on a contract basis and took leave to care for her mother, who had a stroke. She alleged that the company did not provide her with rosters while she was on leave and told her on her return it had no work to offer her.
The company said that while the complainant was on leave, a real estate agent advised the company the complainant was moving away from the area. The company said this was confirmed by social media. The company said that its contract was ending in four months and so it hired a former employee to complete the work. The company said it did not terminate the complainant’s employment but issued her a separation certificate characterising the end of the relationship as voluntary due to lack of work.
The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the company pay the complainant approximately $5,000 as compensation for economic loss and write to her acknowledging the employment relationship ended while she was on leave to care for her mother and apologising for the distress this caused her.
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This is a summary of a selected complaint that has been resolved through our conciliation process. It's designed to help people better understand how complaints might be resolved and what outcomes are possible.
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Please note:
- all complaints are de-identified
- complaints are resolved on a 'without admission of liability' basis
- some content may include confronting or offensive language.
