Worker launches court action over termination from Hill of Content, after also being accused of upsetting colleague and reducing her shifts
Natasha Seymour had always dreamed of working in publishing. But when her bookshop employer terminated her employment after she discussed her pay with colleagues, Seymour says she feared for her future in the industry.
Seymour, 29, joined the bookshop in July as a casual retail assistant, working an average of 26 hours a week. In Seymour’s termination email, sent in February, Hill of Content co-owner Duncan Johnston said he was “extremely upset” at Seymour’s “total disregard for confidentiality in anything that occurs between employer and employee”.
Seymour’s representation of her pay increase to colleagues had “totally unsettled our other staff and undermined our relationship with them”, Johnston wrote. Sowerbutts said allowing workers to discuss pay would boost transparency to ensure they get paid the same amount for doing the same job.Seymour’s legal team allege in court documents her dismissal breached her workplace right to discuss pay, as granted by Fair Work Act changes that took effect in December. From 7 June, pay secrecy terms were no longer allowed to be included in any employment contracts., the bookshop is yet to file its submissions.
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