A Jetstar maintenance engineer who claimed his dismissal was "harsh" following allegations of workplace taunts and a dangerous prank has lost his appeal for reinstatement with the Fair Work Commission. Jarrod Mcrae, also known as Jack, was terminated on July 29, 2025, over a series of incidents at Melbourne Airport that included alleged verbal abuse and a reckless act involving an elevated work platform.
Alleged Taunts and Threats Towards Apprentice
In evidence presented to the Fair Work Commission, Jetstar alleged that Mcrae made derogatory remarks to a younger apprentice, including calling him a "pu***" and asking, "were you hit much as a kid?" The airline further claimed that in a separate incident, Mcrae threatened the apprentice by saying, "Oi, take it to the carpark, be a man." The apprentice testified that these actions made him feel unsafe at work and fearful of physical retaliation if he spoke out.
Mcrae denied making the remarks or argued they were taken out of context, asserting they were not directed solely at the apprentice. Fair Work Commission Deputy President Richard Clancy noted in his decision that while he did not definitively rule on whether the comments were made, he considered them "bizarre, inane and not at all amusing" if true. However, Mr Clancy stated that these alleged taunts alone did not warrant dismissal.
Reckless Elevated Platform Incident
The pivotal factor in the dismissal was a third incident where Mcrae pressed an emergency stop button on an elevated work platform, stranding the apprentice and another colleague five to six metres above the ground. Mcrae defended his actions by claiming he pushed the button for operational reasons and that his failure to reactivate the platform was an unintentional error.
However, Mr Clancy ruled that Mcrae then laughed and walked away, despite knowing his actions could have caused serious harm, as the colleagues were left without any independent means of lowering the platform. The Deputy President found that Mcrae acted in breach of cardinal rules by recklessly engaging in "horseplay, skylarking or practical jokes."
Commission Upholds Dismissal Decision
With 23 years in the industry, including two years at Jetstar, Mcrae lodged an unfair dismissal application, arguing his sacking was unjust. In his ruling last week, Mr Clancy emphasized that while the alleged verbal taunts were not sufficient grounds for dismissal, the elevated platform incident was. He concluded that the dismissal was not harsh, unjust, or unreasonable, thereby upholding Jetstar's decision.
The case highlights the importance of workplace safety and professional conduct, with the Fair Work Commission reinforcing that reckless behavior endangering colleagues can justify termination, even in long-serving employees.
