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An employer's frustration with an employee's poor attitude and performance was understandable, but its procedural deficiencies made her dismissal unfair, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.

The Summer Jade Hair Salon apprentice hairdresser was dismissed on 15 July last year and she subsequently submitted an unfair dismissal application.

The Commission heard that in May 2023, while the employee was absent, the salon owner commented to a long-term client that she was disappointed in the employee's workplace conduct, which put pressure on other team members and made clients feel uncomfortable.

In a subsequent appointment, the client discussed these comments with the employee, but the owner said there had been a "misunderstanding". The client later said she felt uncomfortable about returning to the salon while the employee was there...