Ex-Coles manager pretends to faint after being fired for ‘outrageous behaviour’
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A former Coles manager, who was suing the retail giant for unfair dismissal, pretended to lose consciousness upon learning that he would be fired during a meeting with the investigation team.
The ex-manager found himself in hot water after getting workers to alter his wife’s roster to benefit their daycare arrangements. He was also accused of allegedly showing aggressive behaviour towards his co-workers, and making ‘racist, homophobic, or transphobic comments’.
Commissioner Bruce Williams dropped his application for unfair dismissal this week.
Some of his bizarre claims included allegations, made by ‘disgruntled employees’ who were allegedly on ‘a war against him’, and how he was subject to ‘career assassination’ with ‘fabricated lies’.
The former manager allegedly pretended to faint. Source: The Guardian
He also claimed that his former co-workers were ‘racist and vengeful’.
The Commission was notified that the former manager put on a show by throwing himself on the floor during one of the interviews.
He worked as a store manager at Coles in Caversham, WA but was sacked in October 2021 for poor behaviour. He was a store manager for seven years.
Throughout his career, several complaints were made against him for giving biased treatment to his wife, who worked at the same store he managed. Commissioner Williams stated that the manager had instructed subordinate employees to change his wife’s contracted hours to fit in with their daycare arrangements.
He then ‘intimidated or victimised’ employees and ‘behaved aggressively’ towards them after finding out that concerns about his behaviour were raised.
‘The allegations detailed that he behaved in a racist, homophobic, or transphobic manner.’ Commissioner Williams said.
There were also complaints about the ex-manager tweaking his work schedule. He allegedly forces a subordinate employee to clock him off at the end of his shift time, when he had actually left the store much earlier.
During the investigation, he was allegedly very hostile, cursing and yelling at the woman reviewing the allegations.
‘When she had finished reading him the findings on each of the allegations, she said that he aggressively and erratically yelled out 23 incoherent allegations against numerous employees and managers.’ Commissioner Williams revealed.
Several serious allegations were made against the ex-manager. Source: The Guardian
‘Her impression was that the applicant was making an allegation against everyone who he believed had made allegations against him.’
In a subsequent meeting with Coles in September 2021, The ex-manager performed the ultimate act and left everyone floored.
‘He had his eyes closed and was not speaking.’ Commissioner Williams said.
‘He had thrown himself onto the floor on purpose and had not genuinely fainted.’
The former manager denied allegations about him adjusting his wife’s contracted hours and interacting with the employees in an ‘aggressive and intimidating manner’.
‘As well as not remembering, the applicant also denied making inappropriate comments to staff members about their race, sexuality, or gender identity.’ Commissioner Williams continued.
‘The applicant denied cursing and threatening team members, pressuring them to stay at work, directing them to do personal tasks for him, requiring them to close the store in his absence or behaving aggressively towards them.’
‘He denied threatening team members with losing their jobs for making complaints about him or changing their rostered hours for complaining.’
Commissioner Williams ultimately deemed the former manager's evidence to not be credible, adding that he was evasive and ‘reluctant to concede reasonable propositions’.
Maybe he should consider taking up an acting career instead! What are your thoughts on this shocking case? Were his co-workers fabricating lies or did the ex-manager deserve to lose his job? Let us know in the comments below!
The ex-manager found himself in hot water after getting workers to alter his wife’s roster to benefit their daycare arrangements. He was also accused of allegedly showing aggressive behaviour towards his co-workers, and making ‘racist, homophobic, or transphobic comments’.
Commissioner Bruce Williams dropped his application for unfair dismissal this week.
Some of his bizarre claims included allegations, made by ‘disgruntled employees’ who were allegedly on ‘a war against him’, and how he was subject to ‘career assassination’ with ‘fabricated lies’.
The former manager allegedly pretended to faint. Source: The Guardian
He also claimed that his former co-workers were ‘racist and vengeful’.
The Commission was notified that the former manager put on a show by throwing himself on the floor during one of the interviews.
He worked as a store manager at Coles in Caversham, WA but was sacked in October 2021 for poor behaviour. He was a store manager for seven years.
Throughout his career, several complaints were made against him for giving biased treatment to his wife, who worked at the same store he managed. Commissioner Williams stated that the manager had instructed subordinate employees to change his wife’s contracted hours to fit in with their daycare arrangements.
He then ‘intimidated or victimised’ employees and ‘behaved aggressively’ towards them after finding out that concerns about his behaviour were raised.
‘The allegations detailed that he behaved in a racist, homophobic, or transphobic manner.’ Commissioner Williams said.
There were also complaints about the ex-manager tweaking his work schedule. He allegedly forces a subordinate employee to clock him off at the end of his shift time, when he had actually left the store much earlier.
During the investigation, he was allegedly very hostile, cursing and yelling at the woman reviewing the allegations.
‘When she had finished reading him the findings on each of the allegations, she said that he aggressively and erratically yelled out 23 incoherent allegations against numerous employees and managers.’ Commissioner Williams revealed.
Several serious allegations were made against the ex-manager. Source: The Guardian
‘Her impression was that the applicant was making an allegation against everyone who he believed had made allegations against him.’
In a subsequent meeting with Coles in September 2021, The ex-manager performed the ultimate act and left everyone floored.
‘He had his eyes closed and was not speaking.’ Commissioner Williams said.
‘He had thrown himself onto the floor on purpose and had not genuinely fainted.’
The former manager denied allegations about him adjusting his wife’s contracted hours and interacting with the employees in an ‘aggressive and intimidating manner’.
‘As well as not remembering, the applicant also denied making inappropriate comments to staff members about their race, sexuality, or gender identity.’ Commissioner Williams continued.
‘The applicant denied cursing and threatening team members, pressuring them to stay at work, directing them to do personal tasks for him, requiring them to close the store in his absence or behaving aggressively towards them.’
‘He denied threatening team members with losing their jobs for making complaints about him or changing their rostered hours for complaining.’
Commissioner Williams ultimately deemed the former manager's evidence to not be credible, adding that he was evasive and ‘reluctant to concede reasonable propositions’.
Maybe he should consider taking up an acting career instead! What are your thoughts on this shocking case? Were his co-workers fabricating lies or did the ex-manager deserve to lose his job? Let us know in the comments below!
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