A long-serving postal worker in Newcastle, Australia, has been unsuccessful in his attempt to regain his job following his dismissal for a lunchtime visit to KFC in his delivery van. The employee, who had a tenure of over 30 years with Australia Post, was terminated last year. Despite his plea to Australia’s Fair Work Commission, the decision did not favor him.
The Fair Work Commission investigation revealed that Australia Post was justified in firing the individual, despite his extensive service history, due to multiple instances of serious misconduct in addition to the KFC incident. The unauthorized KFC visit occurred on May 7, 2025, when the worker took an unsanctioned one-hour break without informing his supervisor.
On the same day, the worker also departed from work 30 minutes early without permission and exhibited rude behavior when questioned by his supervisor. Furthermore, the employee had accumulated numerous unexplained absences and ignored multiple messages from management.
While the worker cited an acute stress reaction diagnosis in his defense, Australia Post contended that they had accommodated the situation by reducing his workload and time constraints. Despite concerns about the employee’s job prospects due to his age and long tenure, the Fair Work Commission upheld Australia Post’s decision, emphasizing the worker’s consistent refusal to cooperate.
The Commission’s deputy president highlighted that the worker’s ongoing defiance and lack of cooperation with the employer undermined the employment relationship. Despite presenting medical certificates, the employee’s dismissal was deemed justified by the Commission, with Australia Post expressing satisfaction with the ruling.
