Youth worker’s dismissal claim rejected after heated resignation


Sydney. A youth worker claimed she was dismissed after a tense meeting, but the Fair Work Commission found she had resigned and dismissed her application.


Where: Sydney
Case name: Mariah Boon v Deadly Community Connections Pty Ltd [2025] FWC 2201
Date of decision: 29 July 2025
Link to full case: Click here to view decision


Who: Mariah Boon, senior youth worker
What: Claimed she was dismissed after raising workplace concerns in a meeting
Outcome: FWC found she resigned and had not been dismissed. Case dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.


Legal Principle/s:
• A resignation is not a dismissal unless it is forced by the employer’s conduct.
• Saying “please let me know how the timeframes work” does not override a clear resignation.
• A heat-of-the-moment resignation may still be valid if the employee intended to resign.


Commentary:
The case is a reminder that even if a resignation happens during a tense exchange, it will usually stand unless there is clear evidence of coercion or no real choice.



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