Drunken employee wrongly dismissed because company 'supplied the alcohol'

An Australian employee, who swore and abused co-workers at a Christmas party, has been found to have been unfairly dismissed by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

The commission concluded that the employer, Leighton Boral Amey Joint Venture (LBAJV), unfairly sacked the employee because the company had supplied him unlimited quantities of alcohol.

The male employee, who was a Team Leader, consumed about 10 beers and one vodka and coke before he arrived at the Christmas party.

At the Christmas party he told a company director and senior manager to “F*** off,” and asked a colleague “Who the f*** are you? What do you even do here?”