WFH Employee Fired After Firm Tracks Laptop Activity

Suzie Cheikho, a 38-year-old work-from-home (WFH) employee, recently disclosed that she was terminated from her position at Insurance Australia Group after serving for 18 years. The termination came after she received a formal warning about her performance and output in November 2022. It was stated that she was let go on February 20 for failing to meet deadlines, missing meetings, and not completing important tasks. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) discovered that she frequently did not work her scheduled hours, arrived late, and finished early on multiple days, with some days where she did not work at all, as evidenced by her online activity.

During a formal review meeting, Ms. Cheikho contested the accuracy of the data presented but failed to provide evidence to support her claim. She expressed a need to take time to consider the situation and provide a response. In a written statement, she attributed her declining performance to personal issues affecting her mental health and disclosed that an injury contributed to her challenges. She mentioned informing her managers about medical appointments through Teams messages and promised to make up for the lost time.

A month later, Ms. Cheikho alleged that the company had a deliberate plan to eliminate her from the business and targeted her due to her mental health issues. Subsequently, she shared that she now relies on welfare support and has received her final payment from the company. Her unexpected situation has led to increased attention on her online presence, as she has become somewhat of a micro-influencer with nearly 8000 followers on TikTok. She acknowledged earning a modest income from TikTok, which helps cover her bills, and emphasized that her advocacy work around mental health is related to her own experiences.

Ms. Cheikho now expresses concerns about the possibility of not being able to secure employment in the future. She reflected on her 18-year tenure at the company, highlighting that she had received only one warning during that time.