WFH Employee Fired for Laptop Activity; Claims “No One Will Hire Me

Suzie Cheikho, a 38-year-old work-from-home (WFH) employee, recently disclosed that she was terminated from Insurance Australia Group after serving for 18 years. The termination came after a formal warning issued in November 2022 regarding her performance and output. 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 left early on many days. Additionally, there were days when she did not work at all, as indicated by her online activity. During a formal review meeting, Ms. Cheikho disputed the accuracy of the data but failed to provide evidence supporting her claim.

She attributed her performance decline to personal issues and a decline in her mental health, citing injury-related challenges. Subsequently, Ms. Cheikho contended that the company had a premeditated plan to dismiss her and alleged that she was targeted due to her mental health issues. Following her termination, Ms. Cheikho has become reliant on welfare support and received her final payment from the company.

She has unexpectedly garnered attention for her online presence, amassing nearly 8000 TikTok followers. She stated that she makes a modest income from TikTok, emphasizing that she discusses mental health issues to raise awareness. Now, she apprehensively contemplates the prospect of never securing employment again, expressing concerns about her employment prospects due to the circumstances surrounding her termination.