[2022] FWC 2264
General information, not legal advice.
Fair Work Commission
2022-08-26
Original judgment source is linked above.
s.394 - Unfair dismissal
Application for an unfair dismissal remedy - application made outside 21-day timeframe - circumstances exceptional.
(b) whether the person first became aware of the dismissal after it had taken effect; and
(c) any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal; and
(d) prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay); and
(f) fairness as between the person and other persons in a similar position.
Reason for the delay: s 394(3)(a)
(c) Ms Riley's son has ADHD and autism spectrum disorder and she, as a single mother, is responsible for his care.
(d) Ms Riley provides full time care for Mr Riley, who moved in with her shortly after Ms Ough's email on 7 June 2022.
(f) Ms Riley attended private psychology assessments on, relevantly, 30 June, 8 July 2022 and 15 July 2022.
"Responding to your email has also been delayed, pending the opportunity to obtain specialist legal advice. Which I was able to do today.
Please take notice, that I will be assisting Steve apply to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal. This application will be submitted in the next few days and within the relevant 21-day limit from Ms. Ough's dismissal letter."
(a) Depending on the particular circumstances, representative error may be a sufficient reason to extend the time within which an application for relief is to be lodged.
(b) A distinction should be drawn between delay properly apportioned to an applicant's representative where the applicant is blameless, and delay occasioned by the conduct of the applicant.
(c) The conduct of the applicant is a central consideration in deciding whether representative error provides an acceptable explanation for the delay in filing the application. For example, it would generally not be unfair to refuse to accept an application which is some months out of time in circumstances where the applicant left the matter in the hands of their representative and took no steps to inquire as to the status of their claim. A different situation exists where an applicant gives clear instructions to their representative to lodge an application and the representative fails to carry out those instructions, through no fault of the applicant and despite the applicant's efforts to ensure that the claim is lodged.
(d) Error by an applicant's representatives is only one of a number of factors to be considered in deciding whether or not an out of time application should be accepted.
Whether the person first became aware of the dismissal after it had taken effect: s 394(3)(b)
Action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal: s 394(3)(c)
Fairness as between Mr Riley and other persons in a similar position: s 394(3)(f)
[2] Ibid at 3.2; Exhibit 3 (Applicant Outline or Argument: Extension of time application), 7 at [1]
[3] Exhibit 2 (Witness Statement of Mr Stephen James Riley) at [5]-[7]
[5] Email from Stephen Riley to Vikki Ough dated 2 June 2022; Exhibit 2 at [10]
[6] Form F2 at 3.2 [3]; Stand Down from Employment - Mandatory COVID-19 Booster Vaccination
[8] Stand Down from Employment - Mandatory COVID-19 Booster Vaccination
[10] Form F2 at 3.2 [5]; Exhibit 2 at [13]
[12] Letter from Alice Veal to Stephen Riley dated 30 March 2022
[13] Form F2 at 3.2 [7]; Exhibit 2 at [20]
[17] Form F2 at 3.2 at [9]-[11]; Exhibit 2 at [24]
[19] Letter "Abandonment of Employment - make contact"
[20] Email from Stephen Riley to Vikki Ough dated 2 June 2022; Exhibit 2 at [29]
[23] Form F2 at 3.2 [15]-[18]; Exhibit 2 at [33]; Exhibit 1 (Witness Statement of Ms Rae Riley) at [33]-[35]
[24] Letter "Termination of Employment - Abandonment"
[27] Stogiannidis v Victorian Frozen Foods Distributors Pty Ltd [2018] FWCFB 901 at [39]
[28] Mr Keith Long v Keolis Downer T/A Yarra Trams [2018] FWCFB 4109 at [40]
[29] Mitchell Shaw v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited T/A ANZ Bank [2015] FWCFB 287 at [12]
[30] See email from Ms Riley to the respondent dated 30 June 2022
[31] Emails between Ms Riley and her employer dated 14 June 2022 regarding "Extended Leave"
[32] Carer Payment and/or Carer Allowance Medical Report dated 23 June 2022; Carer Allowance Grant Letter dated 27 June 2022; Carer Payment Grant Letter dated 27 June 2022
[33] ED discharge letter dated 28 June 2022
[34] ED discharge letter dated 17 July 2022
[36] Photo of Ms Riley's diary entry dated 20 July 2022
[37] Lay v Bar's Leaks (Australia) Pty Ltd [2016] FWCFB 2647
[38] Clark v Ringwood Private Hospital (1997) 74 IR 413 at 418-9; see also C. Davidson v Aboriginal & Islander Child Care Agency, Print Q0784 (12 May 1998), ; Robinson v Interstate Transport Pty Ltd [2011] FWAFB 2728 at [25]; Qantas Ground Services Pty Ltd v Rogers [2019] FWCFB 2759 at [17]; Melios v Qantas Airways Ltd [2019] FWC 5029; Burgess v General and Window Cleaning Pty Ltd [2011] FWA 2802 at [18]; Long v Keolis Downer [2018] FWCFB 4109 at [52]
[39] Alexander Mirow v Suez Pty Ltd [2020] FWCFB 3169 at [27]
[44] Email from Ms Riley to the respondent dated 14 July 2022
[46] Ayub v NSW Trains [2016] FWCFB 5500 at [35], [36], [42] and [50]
[47] Brodie-Hanns v MTV Publishing Limited (1995) 67 IR 298
[48] C Ozsoy v Monstamac Industries Pty Ltd [2014] FWCFB 2149 at [38]
[50] Long v Keolis Downer (t/as Yarra Trams) [2018] FWCFB 4109 at [71]
[51] Kyvelos v Champion Socks Pty Ltd [2000] AIRC 540, Print T2421 at [14]
[53] Citing Rhind v Ozcare [2018] FWC 6745
[54] Perry v Rio Tinto Shipping Pty Ltd [2016] FWCFB 6963 at [41]
Printed by authority of the Commonwealth Government Printer
Stephen James Riley
Anglican Aged Care Services Group T/A Benetas [2022] FWC 2264
(1997) 74 IR 413
(1995) 67 IR 298