Goldsmith and Spotless Services Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 365

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Goldsmith and Spotless Services Limited [2004] NSWIRComm 365 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Ms Sandra Lee Goldsmith RESPONDENT: Spotless Services Limited FILE NUMBER: 2576 of 2004 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - dismissal for gross misconduct - sleeping on the job - whether dismissal harsh, unreasonable or unjust - applicant's denial of misconduct - conflict of evidence - balance of probabilities - whether conduct wilful - mitigating factors - allegations of unacceptable management practices - reinstatment sought. CATCHWORDS : Held, on the balance of probabilities applicant was asleep on the job - conduct wilful - difference between nodding off at desk to deliberately setting out to go to sleep - evidence of applicant not credible - conflicting evidence of supporting witness - allegations of unacceptable management practices not sustained - performance issue not taken into account - lack of contrition or remorse - no mitigating factors - dismissal not harsh, unreasonable or unjust - application dismissed. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Blyth Chemicals v Bushnell (1933) 49 CLR 66 Crawley and Tim Vic Pty Ltd (unreported, Connor C, IRC92/483, 3 July 1992) Day v Lumley Life (1999) 90 IR 70 Ellaby Hall v Holden Ltd [2000] SAIRComm 8 Franklins Limited v Webb (1996) 72 IR 257 Gresser and the Roads and Traffic Authority (unreported, Redman C, IRC93/2654, 23 May 1994) Hill and the Department of Juvenile Justice [2000] NSWIRComm 128 Humphries v Cootamundra Ex Services Club [2002] NSWIRComm 225 Hunt v Hornsby Shire Council [2001] NSWIRComm 242 John Lysaght (Australia) Limited and Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia, New South Wales Division & Ors (unreported, Sheppard J, Matter 259 of 1972, 14 September 1972) CASES CITED : Lawrence v Catholic Education Office [2002] NSWIRComm 115 Laws v London Chronicle (Indicator Newspapers) Ltd [1959] 2 All ER 285 North v Television Corporation Limited (1976) 11 ALR 599 Pastrycooks Employees, Biscuit Makers Employees & Flour and Sugar Goods Workers Union (NSW) v Gartrell White No 3 (1990) 35 IR 70 Paris v Bankstown City Council [1999] NSWIRComm 10 Portland Smelter Services Pty Ltd v Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia (unreported, Merriman C, No. 33802 of 1994, 13 October 1994) Shop Distributive & Allied Employees' Association v Jewel Food Stores (1987) 22 IR 1 State Dockyards Case (1972) 14 AILR 133 Transport Workers' Union of Australia, New South Wales Branch, on behalf of Joseph Vallis, and TNT Australia Pty Limited, trading as TNT Express [2002] NSWIRComm 46 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping (1957) AR (NSW) 273 Wilson v Chubb Protective Services [2001] SAIR 56 HEARING DATES: 10/20/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/08/2004