Council worker claims he lost his job after calling in sick to get tested for COVID-19

A truck driver and labourer has claimed he lost his job at a regional Victorian council after calling in sick to get tested for coronavirus.

Peter Marrell had been a casual employee at City of Ballarat Council for around 14 months.

"Everything that's on TV says if you have any symptoms whatsoever to then go and get a COVID test and not go to work," Mr Marrell told A Current Affair.

READ MORE: Understanding your rights as an employee in the age of coronavirus

"I followed these words to the letter, and I have been fired because of this."

He said he woke late last month with a runny nose, so called in sick to work and decided to get a COVID-19 test.

Later that day Mr Marrell was told he was no longer needed.

"I've turned around said, 'is it because I rung in sick this morning?' And they've said to me, 'No, it's because they're downsizing the casual workers and they are pulling people from the aquatic centre in my position'," he said.

Mr Marrell admitted he'd had a number of days off work this year and said he had been tested for coronavirus three times in the last six months.

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"The first time it took seven days to get my results back, the second time it took two days to get my results back and this time it's taken one day to get my results back," he said.

In a statement to A Current Affair, a spokesperson from the City of Ballarat said "under no circumstances would a staff member be terminated for having a COVID-19 test".

The spokesperson also said Mr Marrell had been spoken to regarding "his work performance by his immediate team leader".

"As a result of his poor work performance and poor attendance, Mr Marrell was advised he would not be receiving any further shifts as a casual in the street cleaning team," they said.

Mr Marrell disputed this.

"I'm the strongest worker, the strongest casual worker… I do give 110 per cent when I get to work," he said.

"There's been no warning at all. I've had no conversation to turn around and said anything about the time off I've had or anything like that.

"People are worried about losing their job, and I'm number one victim of that. I can say it has happened to me."

City of Ballarat statement:

The City of Ballarat held two conversations with Peter Marrell's recruitment agency re his poor work performance and poor attendance record in June and July.

Mr Marrell was also spoken to on 8 August re his work performance by his immediate team leader.

On 9 August, Mr Marrell had a COVID-19 test and subsequently was off work sick for the rest of the week.

In the week leading up to 28 August, Mr Marrell was advised he needed to be able to perform the full range of tasks required by his street cleaning position, not just his preferred one or two.

Mr Marrell then rang in ill following allocation to a non-preferred task.

As a result of his poor work performance and poor attendance, Mr Marrell was advised he would not be receiving any further shifts as a casual in the street cleaning team.

The City of Ballarat actively encourages its staff to have COVID-19 tests if they show any signs of the illness.

Staff are also asked to stay home if sick.

Under no circumstances would a staff member be terminated for having a COVID-19 test.

Several casual staff in Mr Marrell's area have had COVID-19 tests and have returned to their positions, as have staff from all over the City of Ballarat.