ABC sued by Pilbara journalist Susan Standen for discrimination after massive pay cut

A Pilbara-based ABC journalist is suing the national broadcaster over an $18,000 pay cut she claims happened despite her being “overworked” to the point her medical conditions were “aggravated”. In documents filed with the Federal Circuit Court, senior features reporter Susan Standen claims the ABC discriminated against her and breached employment law. Her case comes after ABC last year cut an allowance paid to “ help staff with the inflated cost of housing in mining areas”. A letter sent to about 40 affected staff in Kununurra, Broome, Karratha, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton and Esperance said there was no longer a gap in the cost of housing for regional employees. Following her proposed pay cut, Karratha-based Ms Standen arranged a meeting with Community and Public Sector Union and the ABC but failed to get the decision overturned. Ms Standen — who started producing local television, radio and online content for ABC in 2013 — claimed that around the time her pay was slashed, she was required to take on additional work. She was also asked to swap to an 5.30am roster. After presenting medical certificates advising a roster change would be “detrimental” to her existing conditions and taking personal leave for the issues, ABC requested a meeting with her doctor. Ms Standen claimed work had exacerbated medical conditions she experienced in 2018 and 2019, which included tinnitus or ringing in the ears or head, and colitis or inflammation of the colon. It’s alleged the issues arose due to “being overworked; the stress and exhaustion from the long-distance travel, and insomnia caused by anxiety from working in a high turnover environment where adapting to change is constantly needed”. In a complaint to management, Ms Standen said it was “unreasonable to reduce 15 per cent of her remuneration and expert her to continue to do the same duties alongside the extra work”. During an annual appraisal in April 2021, her employer said she had underperformed by only meeting a quarter of her online story KPIs. She was then placed on a performance management plan. Ms Standen rejected the accusations claiming she had driven 13,000km to deliver across multiple platforms for work. She also said her manager Andrew Tyndall had not taken “old technologies” ABC staff had to use into account. . She also argued annual leave for medical conditions wasn’t factored into the KPIs nor were the expectations placed on her to assistance other reporters. When unable to meet an “unachievable job plan”, Ms Standen said she made several requests for voluntary redundancy — which she claimed were “laughed” at by management. She said her medical conditions affected her ability to perform and that her employer had “taken adverse action against her by putting her on a performance management plan”. When the coronavirus pandemic peaked in Australia in mid-2020, Ms Standen also claimed the ABC refused her requests to continue work from home. Ms Standen is seeking compensation for financial losses as well as damages for “hurt and humiliation” and general medical harm. The matter has been listed before Judge Christopher Kendell on Thursday. The ABC and Ms Standen have been contacted for comment.