A long-serving postal worker in Newcastle, Australia, has failed in his attempt to be reinstated after being dismissed for stopping at a KFC outlet during his lunch break in his delivery van. Despite his over 30 years of service with Australia Post, the Fair Work Commission upheld the decision to terminate his employment, citing multiple instances of misconduct, including the KFC incident.

The incident at KFC occurred on May 7, 2025, when the worker visited the fast-food restaurant during an unauthorized hour-long break in his delivery vehicle without notifying his supervisor. Additionally, he had taken a 30-minute unpaid lunch break earlier that day without following the proper procedures.

On the same day, the worker also left work 30 minutes early without permission and was uncooperative when questioned about his whereabouts by his supervisor. Furthermore, he had accumulated numerous unexplained absences and ignored multiple messages from his managers.

Despite presenting medical certificates indicating stress due to interactions with his employer, the Fair Work Commission sided with Australia Post, emphasizing the worker’s ongoing failure to cooperate with the company. The Commission recognized the seriousness of the misconduct and upheld the decision to dismiss him, acknowledging the employer’s efforts to accommodate his stress-related issues.

While the worker’s age and long tenure with Australia Post were considered, the Commission deemed the worker’s behavior as grounds for termination, highlighting the importance of a cooperative relationship between employees and employers. Australia Post has expressed satisfaction with the Commission’s ruling.