“Plain nastiness”: Melbourne Uni professor suing for unfair dismissal accused of micromanagement, gaslighting

A senior University of Melbourne professor suing for unfair dismissal has been accused of “abusive conduct”, micromanagement and gaslighting in a Fair Work Commission hearing.

Professor Angela Paladino is fighting her dismissal from the University of Melbourne in the Fair Work Commission.

A senior University of Melbourne professor has been accused of “plain nastiness”, micromanagement and gaslighting in a Fair Work Commission hearing.

Dr Angela Paladino, former professor of marketing, was dismissed from the university after what her lawyers have called “27 years unblemished service”.

A lawyer for the university said Dr Paladino “engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour, that when viewed in totality” justified her dismissal.

The lawyer said some of the instances of misconduct stood alone, but what emerges is the “creation of a culture and climate of fear in the learning centre that Dr Paladino was the director of”.

Dr Paladino was the director of the Williams Centre of Learning Advancement. The university is alleging she exploited her authority, engaged in abusive conduct on a number of occasions along with “micromanagement” and “gaslighting”.

She was also described as engaging in “plain nastiness” and displaying “abusive conduct” by the university lawyer.

Examples include a member of staff who said: “Dr Paladino screamed at me” and another who said Dr Paladino cancelled her work credit card the night before they went away.

The university said Dr Paladino did not show remorse or take any responsibility for such issues.

Her lawyer, Jack Tracey KC, said Dr Paladino was an “esteemed academic with a significant record of employment”.

“Dr Paladino is here to fight to get her job back. She is fighting for her career and her reputation.”

Mr Tracey said reinstatement was the “only remedy” that was appropriate. The hearing is continuing in the Fair Work Commission.