The worker in Queensland, Australia, had complained about shifts and the need for more staff, the Fair Work Commission found.

Sens Catering Group, which runs Sens Coffee, fired the supervisor after she raised concerns about the use of employees in another of the business’s ventures at weekends.

She said in her messages that the business needed more staff.

A co-worker gave evidence that the general manager told her to “fire her right now!!”

“Hire another supervisor I don’t care about the cost, do it now!,” she said.

Asked why the message had upset her, the general manager said the supervisor “didn’t add any smiley faces! There are no emotions!”

Fair Work Commissioner Chris Simpson concluded the supervisor was “merely trying to express a view as to what would be in the best interests of the business in regard to staffing across the two venues”.

The commissioner ordered the firm to pay the manager compensation of $5,350.