A school teacher faced a pay cut in his salary after drinking and smoking cask wine during a video call with his supervisor at 11am on Monday.
Anthony Duncan, a teacher at Lyneham Primary School in Canberra, was working from home under the Covid-19 lockdown on August 16, 2021, when he had a one-on-one meeting with his supervisor.
During the telephone conversation, which took place at approximately 11am and during Mr Duncan's working hours, he picked up a barrel of wine, colloquially known as a goon sack, lifted it over his head and began drinking from it.
The teacher was not responsible for the students that day as he was preparing lessons for his class to do remotely.
A school teacher faced a year-long pay cut after drinking cask wine and smoking during a video call with his supervisor at 11 a.m. on Monday (stock image)
As a result of the binge drinking, Mr Duncan was given a written reprimand and his pay was reduced for 12 months.
The teacher contested the punishment, taking the matter to the Fair Work Commission and arguing that 'the allegations against me are hyperbolic and lack veracity and are therefore vociferously denied'.
He admitted that he smoked, for which he was not punished, and that he drank, but claimed that he was not drunk and that the meeting had ended when he had had his first drink.
Mr Duncan also made it clear that he was not supervising the children or in school at the time.
FWC vice-president Lyndall Dean rejected his arguments, saying there was “no doubt” Mr Duncan was working.
'If the first argument were correct, a teacher could smoke and consume alcohol in front of children in an online classroom environment. It's a misconception,” she said.
'The employer indeed has a duty to ensure a safe workplace at someone's home when working from home.
Lyneham Primary School teacher claimed he was not on school grounds or supervising children when he took a drink from the wine barrel
'We are not convinced by it either the argument that the work was done and that the consumption of alcohol was therefore a private matter. Mr. Duncan was working during normal business hours. Relevant policies apply.”
Ms Dean said it was 'irrelevant' that Mr Duncan was not responsible for pupils as school policy states that alcohol cannot be consumed during working hours.
She ruled that the sanction imposed on Mr Duncan was reasonable and rejected his request for dispute resolution.