Jennifer Townsend v Barrier Reef Community Child Care Inc

[2016] FWC 3335

[2016] FWC 3335

FAIR WORK COMMISSION

DECISION

Fair Work Act 2009
s.365—General protections

Jennifer Townsend
v
Barrier Reef Community Child Care Inc.
(C2016/425)

DEPUTY PRESIDENT LAWRENCE SYDNEY, 26 MAY 2016

Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal.

[1] On 26 February 2016 Ms Jennifer Townsend (the Applicant) lodged a General Protections application involving a dismissal pursuant to s.365 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act). The application alleged that the Applicant had been dismissed by Barrier Reef Community Child Care Inc. (the Respondent).

[2] The Applicant commenced employment with the Respondent on 11 January 2016. She was employed as a child care teacher in the Respondent’s centre in Cairns. She says that she was dismissed on 5 February 2016 and the dismissal took effect on that day. However, it is apparent that the Applicant was dismissed in a meeting on 29 January 2016. This was when she received a separation certificate.

[3] The application therefore was lodged either 7 or 12 days out of time.

Alleged Contravention

[4] The Applicant says that she raised with the Respondent problems with the staff/children ratios and other issues in the centre and was dismissed shortly thereafter. A breach of s.340 is alleged.

Respondent’s Submissions

[5] The Respondent denies these allegations and further denies that there has been a breach of the General Protections provisions of the Act.

[6] The Respondent states that the Applicant was dismissed because of a number of problems with her performance and conduct, including:

● Instances where children had not been properly supervised.
● Lack of skills to carry out the role.
● Failure to accept advice.

Relevant Legislation

[7] Section 366 of the Act provides:

366 Time for application

366(1) An application under section 365 must be made:

(a) within 21 days after the dismissal took effect; or
(b) within such further period as the FWC allows under subsection (2).

366(2) The FWC may allow a further period if the FWC is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, taking into account:

(a) the reason for the delay; and
(b) any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal; and
(c) prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay); and
(d) the merits of the application; and
(e) fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position.”

Approach of the Commission

[8] The considerations relevant to the assessment of whether exceptional circumstances exist have been dealt with by Full Benches (see: McConell v A & PM Fornatoro t/a Tony’s Plumbing Service (2011) 202 IR 59; Nulty v Blue Star Group Pty Ltd (2011) 203 IR 1; (Nulty) and Robinson v Interstate Transport Pty Ltd (2011) FWAFB 2728). The following useful summary was provided in Nulty:

“[13] In summary, the expression "exceptional circumstances" has its ordinary meaning and requires consideration of all the circumstances. To be exceptional, circumstances must be out of the ordinary course, or unusual, or special, or uncommon but need not be unique, or unprecedented, or very rare. Circumstances will not be exceptional if they are regularly, or routinely, or normally encountered. Exceptional circumstances can include a single exceptional matter, a combination of exceptional factors or a combination of ordinary factors which, although individually of no particular significance, when taken together are seen as exceptional. It is not correct to construe "exceptional circumstances" as being only some unexpected occurrence, although frequently it will be. Nor is it correct to construe the plural "circumstances" as if it were only a singular occurrence, even though it can be a one off situation. The ordinary and natural meaning of "exceptional circumstances" includes a combination of factors which, when viewed together, may reasonably be seen as producing a situation which is out of the ordinary course, unusual, special or uncommon.”

[9] The onus of establishing exceptional circumstances is on the Applicant who needs to provide a credible reason for the whole of the period that the application was delayed. (See: Cheval Properties Pty Ltd (t/as Penrith Hotel Motel) v Smithers [2010]197 IR 403).

[10] This point was emphasised by the Full Bench in the recent decision of Diotti v Lenswood Cold Stores Co-op Society t/a Lenswood Organic[2016] FWCFB 349 which, although concerned with the unfair dismissal application, contained the following statement, which is equally applicable to a s.365 application:

“[29] The appellant relies upon the Full Bench decision in Mitchell Shaw v Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited T/A ANZ Bank[2015] FWCFB 287 (Shaw and ANZ), at paragraph [12] the majority decision states:

‘[12] This decision makes an important point which we consider deserves re-emphasising. The delay required to be considered is the period beyond the prescribed 21 day period for lodging an application. It does not include the period from the date of the dismissal to the end of the 21 day period. …’

[30] This extract must be read in its entirety. The decision goes on to state:

‘[12] … The circumstances from the time of the dismissal must be considered in order to determine whether there is a reason for the delay beyond the 21 day period and ultimately whether that reason constitutes exceptional circumstances.’

[31] Hence, the decision emphasised that while the delay to be considered is the period subsequent to the expiration of 21 days, the circumstances from the time of the dismissal must be considered in determining whether the reason for the delay constitutes exceptional circumstances. For example if an applicant is in hospital for the first 20 days of the 21 day period this would be a relevant consideration if the application was filed 2 days out of time as occurred in this matter. The reason for the delay by reference to the circumstances from the date the dismissal took effect is as expressed in Shaw and ANZ  the correct approach.”

Commission Proceedings

[11] On 1 April 2016, the parties were advised by the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) that the application had not been made within 21 days of the dismissal taking effect. Directions were issued for the filing of witness statements and submissions as to whether the Commission should grant further time for lodgement pursuant to s.366(2) of the Act. The matter was listed for hearing on 26 April 2016.

[12] The Applicant was self-represented. The Respondent was represented by Ms R. Cahill, Employment Relations Advisor, Australian Community Services Employer Association.

Matters to be taken into account pursuant to s.366(2)

[13] In deciding whether to allow a further period for an application to be made the Commission must take into account the matters set out in s.366(2) above. I will deal with each of those matters separately.

(a) The reason for the delay

[14] The Applicant’s essential explanation for the delay in lodging was that she had contacted the Fair Work Ombudsman. However, there is no suggestion that she lodged any form of application.

[15] Accordingly, the reasons for delay cited by the Applicant fall short of establishing exceptional circumstances.

(b) Any action taken by the person to dispute the dismissal

[16] The Applicant did make a range of inquiries about her employment status including to TAFE Queensland.

[17] However, I am not satisfied that this is a matter of significance in the circumstances of this case.

(c) Prejudice to the employer (including prejudice caused by the delay)

[18] Given the overall facts, the Respondent would be prejudiced by the time and costs involved in further litigation.

(d) Merits of the application

[19] The Applicant would have difficulty in establishing that a workplace right was sought to be exercised and for this she was dismissed.

[20] On the other hand, the Respondent sets out a number of difficulties with the Applicant’s conduct and attitude. Especially given the Applicant’s very short period of service, it appears to me likely that the Respondent would be able to show that these were the operative reasons for the dismissal.

[21] I do not consider that the merits of the application give weight to the existence of exceptional circumstances.

(e) Fairness as between the person and other persons in a like position

[22] This factor was not addressed and has not been taken into account.

Conclusion and Order

[23] Having considered all of the factors set out in s.366(2), I am not satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances warranting the granting of a further period for the making of an application under s.366(2). Accordingly, the application is dismissed.

Order

Pursuant to s.587 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act), the application made by Jennifer Townsend under s.365 of the Act is dismissed.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

Appearances:

J. Townsend, Applicant;

R. Cahill for the Respondent

Hearing details:

2016

Telephone Hearing:

April 26.

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