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An employer has defended sacking a worker who "confected and exaggerated" bullying allegations to excuse his own misconduct.

At the start of last year, the disability support worker's employment with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was transferred to a "supported independent living" home operated by Home@Scope, where he'd been working on secondment.

Shortly afterwards, the employee left a shift early without notifying his co-worker, who was left to manage dinner time with the home's five residents alone. The employee later sent an email to the house supervisor, alleging he left because the co-worker was bullying him, and that this was affecting his wellbeing. HR investigated his claim but found it unsubstantiated.

Around the same time, a resident complained that the employee was "an asshole and I don't want him coming back"; she said he wouldn't let her come out of her room for a cup of tea. Another reported that the employee had told the residents not to "talk"...