Posties fired after alleged X-rated prank goes wrong

Australia Post dismissed three of its workers after a prank involving an X-rated item, the Fair Work Commission has heard.

EXCLUSIVE

Three posties who allegedly sent X-rated candy to a colleague as a “practical joke” have been fired from Australia Post.

Ms Rebecca Possingham, a postie for more than seven years, was fired from the Modbury North Delivery Centre in Adelaide’s northeast alongside two other female colleagues - Sue Tregeagle and Alisha Jury - after the trio allegedly anonymously organised X-rated love heart candies to be delivery from a sex shop to another colleague.

The commission heard that the group came up with the idea in the car park of the delivery centre in Modbury North. Picture: Supplied

Ms Possingham lodged an unfair dismissal claim against Australia Post, which was dismissed by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) last week.

The commission heard how Ms Jury had since successfully lodged an internal appeal against her dismissal and had been redeployed in a “lesser” role at another facility.

In documents obtained by news.com.au, Australia Post alleged at the FWC that in March, the trio learned that a fellow postie – who was in her early 20s - was uncomfortable delivering to a sex shop in the area named “Sexyland”.

The postie has since filed an unfair dismissal claim. Picture: Google Maps

On April 4, the young worker, who had only been a postie for five months, was told a package had been delivered to her at work.

She opened the package to find a packet of lollies which had been ordered from “Sexyland”.

The commission heard how the lollies were labelled with X-rated phrases including: “Sexy A*s, “Let’s F**k” and “Lick Me”.

The worker told her mother - who also worked at the centre - and reported the incident to her manager.

Ms Possingham was informed to keep the matter confidential and not to discuss the matter to colleagues while the incident was being investigated.

However, the commission heard how Ms Possingham sent several texts to the mother of the worker who received the parcel.

In one text, Ms Possingham described herself as the “whistleblower” of the incident and accused the mother of having “knifed her in the back”.

The commission also heard how Ms Jury, who was also in her early 20s, questioned whether the practical joke was a good idea, to which Ms Possingham said words to the effect of: “Not to worry, it’ll be all right, it’ll be funny.”

The FWC heard that Ms Possingham, Ms Tregeagle, and Ms Jury were sent letters of dismissal on June 20 following the internal investigation.

The FWC heard how Ms Sue Tregeagle was also dismissed from her role over the prank. Picture: Facebook

The X-rated lollies sent to the young worker. Picture: Google

Ms Possingham lodged the unfair dismissal claim, arguing that it was harsh and unjust.

However, Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission Peter Anderson last week ruled the claim be dismissed after finding Ms Possingham was in breach of her employment obligations under Australia Post’s discrimination and harassment policies.

The FWC found Australia Post’s dismissal of the women from their roles was “fair”. Picture: iStock

“Ms Possingham engaged in serious and wilful misconduct by being actively involved in a plan to anonymously send a parcel of a sexual nature to a young female employee,” Mr Anderson ruled.

“She made a foolish error of judgment, was an experienced employee who ought to have known better, failed to cure the breach, falsely denied her involvement and then tried to impose the full burden of responsibility on others.

“Rather than own up to her partial involvement, Ms Possingham compounded the breach with deflection, avoidance and denial.”

Mr Anderson also said Ms Possingham should have aborted the plan when Ms Jury questioned when it was a good idea.

“Ms Possingham, as a more experienced employee of seven and a half years’ service, ought to not only have known that practical jokes, especially of a sexual nature aimed at a co-worker, are not funny or excusable on that basis, but to also have had the experience to pull back when Ms Jury expressed a momentary half-doubt,” Mr Anderson said in his decision.

Australia Post has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Posties fired after alleged X-rated prank goes wrong