SA tribunal rules against government dept

A South Australian man who suffered "emotional torment" after being wrongfully suspended by a government department has been awarded compensation.

An industrial tribunal heard the disability services officer was suspended by the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion in August 2014 after being accused of using alcohol and drugs at work.

The man denied the allegations, which he believed were "payback" for a report he made about another colleague allegedly physically abusing a disabled person.

His suspension remained in place until September 2015 when the matter was brought before the Industrial Relations Commission of SA.

The allegations against the man were not provided to him in writing until November that year.

IRCSA deputy president Karen Bartel said the department had not reached a reasonable belief the man was guilty of wilful and serious misconduct.

She criticised the department's lack of haste and the fact that officers involved in the suspension were unaware he was subject to a training contract.

"The employer is a state government agency, not a small business," she said.

"It is verging on shameful that unnecessary emotional torment has been inflicted on the applicant because his employer has failed to conduct a proper investigation in a timely manner."

Ms Bartel ordered the department to pay $13,000 in compensation, noting the man had suffered from depression arising from his suspension.