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A manager who responded to misconduct allegations with denials, counter-allegations, and 13 statements of support from colleagues has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission he was unfairly dismissed.

The Coles Supermarkets employee was appointed manager of its Caversham store in 2021. About six months later, in the space of four weeks, Coles received five written complaints about his behaviour.

According to the HR expert tasked with investigating, the employee responded to news of the complaints by repeatedly and aggressively trying to find out who made them, despite firm instructions not to.

One employee had complained anonymously, but the investigator interviewed the other four, plus 10 witnesses, and formulated 12 allegations before interviewing the manager. The allegations included giving preferential treatment to his wife, who was also an employee; making racist, homophobic and transphobic comments; threatening his subordinates; and committing time fraud...