The Fair Work Commission has ruled that national airline Qantas was able to sack a Jetstar manager who put off having a COVID-19 vaccine while she was on long-service leave.
Editor’s note: This story originally appeared on Lawyers Weekly’s sister brand, Australian Aviation.
Brisbane airport duty manager Megan Willoughby said she believed the airline’s vaccine mandate didn’t apply to those not currently working, but FWC vice-president Ingrid Asbury decided that she was aware of the rules.
Qantas initially announced that all frontline staff across the group, including pilots, cabin crew and ground services workers, would be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by 15 November 2021, or face dismissal.
Ms Willoughby, who had worked for Jetstar for 15 years, delayed getting her COVID-19 vaccine until her return from long-service leave in May of 2022 — six months after the deadline.
In her submission to the FWC, Ms Willoughby argued she had not believed the vaccination policy applied to employees on long-service leave.
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