Rights I Just Made Up: The Right To Keep My Job Even Though I Suck At It Because I Don't Have Anywhere Else I Can Go

In Australia, the economic prospects of an employee play a bigger role in firing him than his ability to do his job, his attitidue toward his bosses, or his safety record.

In the latest ruling to concern business, Fair Work Australia found the worker had engaged in "relatively serious misconduct", but ruled the sacking harsh due to his length of service and the fact he was a poorly educated middle-aged family man.

The tribunal accepted that his repeated failure to wear the safety glasses and his disdainful and abusive response to management amounted to serious misconduct.

It also acknowledged that the company's managers were required to give effect to safety policies and procedures.

But the tribunal said the sacking was a "disaster" for Mr Quinlivan, taking into account that he had worked at the mill for 20 years, was married with two daughters, aged nine and 11, and had a mortgage of about $70,000.

No word on whether the Australian government will cover any liability suits when this model employee gets someone injured or killed.