Worker Sacked By SMS Wins $45K

A worker with almost 10 years of service who was sacked by text message will receive $45,000 in compensation after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) found his dismissal was unfair.

What happened

The worker told the FWC he asked his employer for a pay review in February 2025 after two years without an increase.  The worker said the employer replied via email, “You have me by the balls,” and that he was “struggling massively.”  The worker said he was offered a “modest” $5,000 increase, which he accepted.   

The worker noticed the pay increase did not appear in his next pay and he complained to the employer highlighting his contributions to the business and “broken and false promises” regarding his compensation.  The worker said his boss responded by saying there would be no pay rise and asking if the worker wanted to continue or not.

The worker claimed he was then blocked from the company’s email system and couldn’t perform his work.  He told the Commission that the employer sent him a text message, which read, “If we can’t have a conversation then I think it’s time to terminate the employment. You agree?”  When the worker replied that he was not resigning and had done nothing wrong in asking for a pay rise, the worker claimed his boss replied, “OK, I’m terminating you with immediate effect.”

In the FWC

Before the FWC, the employer argued the worker had not been dismissed and that he’d abandoned his employment.  The argument was rejected by the FWC with Deputy President Boyce concluding the worker had been dismissed and the dismissal lacked a valid reason and was procedurally unfair.

Turning to the question of remedy, the Deputy President determined the worker should be paid $44, 450.84 plus superannuation of $5,111.85.  In response to the employer’s submissions going to the difficult financial circumstances of the business, the Deputy President ordered the compensation by paid in five instalments between July and August 2025. 

The worker is also pursuing the employer in separate proceedings in relation to unpaid annual leave, notice of termination, unpaid commissions and long service leave.

Kadji v Sigma Resourcing Pty. Ltd. [2025] FWC 1737