Fiona Lynch’s dismissal letter to sacked designer Timothy Quirk after alleged lobby tirade
The Australian has obtained a copy of the letter sent to a senior employee after he allegedly told a celebrated interior designer she was ‘f..king toxic’ and ‘everybody hates you’ | READ THE LETTER
Celebrated interior designer Fiona Lynch sacked one of her senior employees on the spot after telling him he posed an “unacceptable risk” to the safety of her staff following an altercation in an east Melbourne lobby during which he allegedly swore, yelled and abused her.
The Australian has obtained the dismissal letter sent by Ms Lynch, a multi-award winning designer, to Timothy Quirk sacking him over the heightened discussion in August last year at which he allegedly called her “toxic” and said “everyone hates you”.
Mr Quirk, who also goes by the name Timothy Dalton-Thomas, has sued Ms Lynch in the Federal Court claiming he was sacked for making legitimate complaints about a harsh office environment and difficult working conditions.
Mr Quirk alleges that during the disagreement in the lobby Ms Lynch told him that “if you don’t like it here, then leave” – which Ms Lynch denies – after he complained she had created a “toxic and hostile atmosphere”.
Ms Lynch, however, claims Mr Quirk breached the Sex Discrimination Act during the argument in which he allegedly slammed his coffee cup on a table, called her “f..king toxic” and threatened her by “aggressively standing over her, pointing and approaching her in a threatening manner”. Mr Quirk denies acting in this manner.
The matter is due to be heard at mediation ahead of Federal Court registrar Amelia Edwards in Melbourne on Friday.
In the dismissal letter, which is at the centre of the dispute, Ms Lynch described Mr Quirk’s conduct in the lobby as “unacceptable”.
“The incident involved you yelling at me calling me ‘toxic’, swearing, engaging in physically threatening conduct by aggressively standing over me and pointing in a threatening manner. This left me physically and emotionally distressed resulting in me asking you to leave the office and breaking down in tears,” she wrote.
“I note from your response yesterday that you deny the allegations or that you engaged in any poor or unacceptable behaviour.”
Ms Lynch said she had considered Mr Quirk’s response to the allegations, but was “unable to accept your explanation or denials as they are not credible”.
“Apart from your conflicting description of the incident, a co-tenant in the building has also confirmed the circumstances including your threatening conduct,” she wrote.
“The company has concluded that the incident is of such a serious nature that it constitutes serious misconduct, posing an unacceptable risk of harm to the safety of staff.”
Ms Lynch said Mr Quirk’s conduct warranted the “immediate termination” of his employment due.
“The incident represents a fundamental breach of the critical trust and confidence necessary for an ongoing working relationship between you as a senior employee and me as the owner of the business. Furthermore, your response lacks any sense of acknowledgment of wrongdoing or remorse,” she wrote.
“After considering all these matters, I confirm that your continued employment is untenable and will terminate with effect from today. You will be paid any accrued but unused annual leave, subject to any applicable taxation requirements.”
Mr Quirk claims he suffered pain, stress and anxiety as a result of his dismissal, as well as loss of employment security and damage to employment prospects. He is seeking compensation, damages and costs.
Ms Lynch’s eponymous firm, which is currently assisting with the design of the Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta, won Interior Designer of the Year at the Belle/Fanuli Interior Design Awards last year, as well as Best Residential Kitchen Design and Interior Designer of the Year at the Vogue Living 50 ceremony.
In 2023, the firm won the Eat Drink Design Awards’ Best Restaurant Design for Kiln at Sydney’s Ace Hotel.
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