
Issue No 64		28 July 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Sacking Threat Was ‘Group Therapy’

A linen manufacture found to have wrongfully dismissed a worker admitted that the threat of the sack was a motivation technique that had been used 27 times over a ten year period on a single worker.

The amazing management strategy came to light during the successful claim by Effie Pyliotis against June Anne Manufacturing.

In its decision the Industrial Relations Commission found Pyliotis was sacked because she failed to apologise for her low productivity on a particular day. The IRC said this was not a valid reason for termination.

The Employer gave evidence that he had given notice of termination to the employee on 12 separate occasions for alleged bad performance but on each occasion before the notice expired her performance had improved an employment continued.

The Employer told the Commission he had given another employee notice of termination 27 times over a ten year period without actually sacking her.

The following is taken from transcript:

Commissioner: "[Your supervisor] says you used to give motivation speeches and part of that speech was if it's unsatisfactory you will be sacked, instant dismissal ...?

Employer: "That was group therapy".

Commissioner" "Yes, it's strange group therapy ... What I want to know is this, you said at one stage that you thought that terminating them was a bit of a prod to keep their production us. Is that correct?"

Employer" "Yes, I think that it's the sort of situation of using a word that not probably appropriate by using the word prod. It's a motivator."

The Commissioner said in its decision that except for the stautory cap of 26 weeks the employee would have received even more!

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Issue 64 contents

Interview: Greg Sword Unsheathed
The NUW national secretary is set to be endorsed as ALP Federal president next week. He talks about the relationship between the two wings of the labour movement.

Unions: Phone Rage, Headaches and Stress
A comprehensive survey of the call centre industry conducted by the ASU has revealed an industry workplace culture dominated by excessive monitoring and stress.

Economics: And the Winner Is .... Sydney?
Austrade chief economist Tim Harcourt looks at the export impact of the Sydney Olympics and asks if we'll win gold.

International: Western Sahara: Referendum Or War?
A June UN referendum in Western Sahara could have provided the people of Western Sahara a chance to exercise their right to self-determination and independence. It didn't.

History: The Union's Roots in Song
We look at some of the songs that kept working people going through their darkest hours.

Media: Unchaining the ABC
The ALP needs to rethink our public institutions to determine how they might better deliver the ends for which they were originally established.

Environment: Motorways Fail the Pollie Test
Our daily grind of congested roads, polluted air, and frustrated motorists is putting all and sundry to the test, and not least Liberal and Labor politicians.

Satire: Murdoch Launches Bid for Under-9s Netball Team
Sydney's lucrative junior league netball broadcasting market has been shaken by a bid by one of the world's most predatory entrepreneurs, Rupert Murdoch, to secure ownership of the most successful team in the league.

Review: Espionage a Trois
The Whitlams' brass section his teamed with some of the hippest cats in Sydney to make the sort of music you'll want to shoot baddies to.

» McMeanies Skimp on Olympics Pay

» Lawyers Pose as Students to Nail Workers

» Fiji Union Protests on Wednesday

» Casino Plumps for Penalty Rates

» AWU’s Push For The Bush

» Inquiry Lifts Lid on "SweetShops on Wheels"

» Fair Traders Call for World Where People Matter

» Accor Makes 'Cheeky' Olympics Offer

» Sacking Threat Was ‘Group Therapy’

» Doing It For The Love Of It

» Deadline to Vote in ARM Poll Approaches

» Grief Support for Workplace Tragedies

» Workers Invited to Mark Federation