After dedicating 18 years to her job, an Australian woman faced job loss. Her company employed technology to observe how she worked from home. They discovered that her work effort, such as typing on her computer, fell short. Her role included crafting insurance documents and adhering to guidelines, but her performance wasn’t up to par.
Over 49 days, spanning from October to December, her computer usage was scrutinised. It became apparent that she frequently commenced work late, wrapped up early, or even skipped entire workdays. Although she claimed to be using other devices for tasks, her company remained unconvinced of her productivity.
Across these 49 days, she managed an average of just 54 keystrokes per hour, below the expected workload. Consequently, she received her termination notice on February 20 due to multiple missed deadlines and meetings. Additionally, she proved elusive and occasionally absent without prior notice. Her unfinished task once led to her company receiving a fine.
Earlier, in November, she received a warning about her performance and was instructed to enhance it. Yet, after three months, improvements were lacking. She contested her dismissal, arguing it was unjust. The Fair Work Commission, responsible for ensuring fair workplaces, evaluated her case and concluded that her termination was reasonable, given her disregard for workplace rules.
This incident underscores the significance of meeting work expectations, especially when working remotely. It highlights how technology can reveal work patterns and contribute to employment decisions.
