Claim that small business owner sacked terminally ill employee

The owner of a Perth panel beating business has hit back at claims by the Fair Work Ombudsman that he sacked a long-term employee to prevent him from taking sick leave after he was diagnosed with cancer.

Pasquale Minniti, who part-owns and runs panel beating business Hi-Lite Automotive, said he did not sack the employee.

The FWO is bringing a case in the Federal Court against Minniti claiming he dismissed a full-time spray painter – after the employee was diagnosed with cancer – in an effort to prevent him from taking paid personal leave.

The Ombudsman claims that after being diagnosed with cancer in December, 2010, the spray painter obtained the relevant medical certificates and informed Minniti that he proposed to take paid personal leave.

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