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Qantas Engineer Sacked For Slapping Flight Attendant On The Bottom

Qantas engineer sacked for slapping flight attendant on the bottom

A Qantas engineer sacked for slapping a flight attendant on the bottom has lost his unfair dismissal claim.

In addition to the slap, he made a series of creepy comments to the woman and even claimed to have “arranged” a mechanical issue so he could ask her out.

Qantas engineer sacked for harassment

The 55 year-old engineer worked for Qantas as an aircraft engineer for 37 years, before his dismissal in March 2019.

The flight attendant told the Fair Work Commission that he made a number of creepy comments to her.

The engineer made the comments in May 2018 on board a flight from Melbourne to Sydney before the cabin door closed.

He told the flight attendant that he “likes blondes”, and asked if she was single.

After a mechanical issue later forced the man to return to the aircraft, he said “I arranged this so I could ask you out”.

In a separate incident in November 2018, the engineer “slapped [the attendant] on her left buttock with an open hand and forcefully” – then telling her he meant to only touch her back.


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Engineer denies harassment

The engineer denied harassing anyone, claiming he always behaved professionally at work.

He described the airline’s decision to terminate his employment as harsh and unfair.

He told the Commission the decision has forced him to move back in with his parents and prevented him providing for his two school-aged children.

Commission says conduct ‘is not on’

However, deputy president Val Gostencnik criticised the man’s behaviour, describing it as “plainly unwelcome”.

Further, she said that “a modicum of common sense should tell one that the conduct… ‘is not on’.”

Ms Gostencnik found the incidents, which left the attendant “shaken”, justified Qantas’ decision to fire the engineer.


LEARN MORE

READ DEPUTY PRESIDENT GOSTENCNIK’S FULL DECISION HERE


No excuse for sexual harassment

Industrial advocate Miles Heffernan said everyone has the right to a workplace free from sexual harassment.

“Creepy comments and any form of unwelcome physical contact will always leave a worker in real trouble when it comes to their employment,” he said.


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