‘Can’t get a f***ing job’: Suzie Cheikho erupts after being fired for WFH conduct

An Australian woman who was sacked after bosses monitored her keystroke activity while she was working from home has erupted in a TikTok livestream.

Frank Chung

@franks_chung

2 min read

August 10, 2023 - 11:54AM

‘Can’t get a fing job’ WFH victim erupts

An Australian woman who was sacked after bosses monitored her keystroke activity while she worked from home has erupted in a TikTok livestream, saying she’s furious at the media coverage and declaring she “can’t get a f**king job”.

Suzie Cheikho, 38, a former consultant at Insurance Australia Group (IAG), was sacked in February for missing deadlines and meetings, being absent and uncontactable, and failing to complete a task which caused the industry regulator to fine IAG, a Fair Work Commission hearing heard.

She had received a formal warning in November 2022 about her output and was put on a performance improvement plan. Ms Cheikho was subject to a detailed review of cyber activity, which analysed the number of times she physically pressed her keyboard on 49 working days from October to December.

The Commission also heard the review found she had “very low keystroke activity”, averaging 54 strokes per hour over the duration of her surveillance, which showed “she was not presenting for work and performing work as required”.

Ms Cheikho, who told her employer she did “not believe for a minute” the data was true, took her case to the Fair Work Commission (FWC). The tribunal this week sided with IAG, finding she was fired for a “valid reason of misconduct”.

After her story went viral, the Sydneysider revealed that she had been forced onto welfare and had received her first Centrelink payment this month.

Suzie Cheiko says she ‘can’t get a f**king job’. Picture: TikTok

In a TikTok livestream on Wednesday night, Ms Cheikho took aim at her former employer and also the media.

“They [IAG] were being real arrogant, and they lied too in their responses too. It was a personal attack, straight out,” she said.

“I’m low-key very, very embarrassed.

“They’ve put my face all over social media, I already suffer mental health issues, bro — this is just making things worse. It’s not a joke, you don’t understand my mental health is very affected.”

She said she was now getting harassed.

“You don’t understand, I’m actually getting harassed, like I literally just had news reporters here,” she said.

“This has never happened to me before, and for what? Something that’s very emotional and very private, I never even spoke about it on social media. I’m literally getting harassed through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, like what do you want me to do? I can’t get a f**king job.”

Ms Cheikho said if you Googled her name now “it’s everywhere”.

“Of course I’m embarrassed,” she said.

The 38-year-old now has nearly 8000 followers. Picture: TikTok

“I’m being treated like a full criminal. You should see what they’ve written — I can admit, I’m red hot, bro.”

Ms Cheikho earlier told The Daily Mail she feared she may never be employed again.

“It’s embarrassing that this story has gone viral — nobody is going to hire me,” she said.

“In 18 years of work there I only ever got one warning.”

But the unwanted spotlight has helped to boost her online profile since getting the sack. She’s pivoted to become something of a microinfluencer, with almost 8000 followers on TikTok.

“I make a small percentage of money off TikTok — just enough to cover my bills,” she said

“It’s all to do with my mental health, you see. I’m an advocate because of the mental health issues I have suffered, so I raise awareness by talking about it on ‘lives’.”