Hero shopworker was sacked for tackling a shoplifter – after teens ran riot and attacked staff when Coles bosses ditched the supermarket’s security guards
A Coles worker in Sydney has won almost A$6,500 after a workplace tribunal found his dismissal for restraining a suspected shoplifter was harsh and unreasonable. The case highlights the tension between supermarket safety rules and staff responses to theft, particularly after security guards were removed.
Ryan Anderson, who had worked at the Pyrmont store for more than 10 years, was dismissed in December after holding a teenager for about two minutes and 20 seconds. The Fair Work Commission said Coles had a valid reason to dismiss him because his actions breached its safety policy, but found the penalty too harsh; Anderson said staff felt they had to tackle theft themselves amid alleged abuse and assaults.
In short
- Coles worker receives almost A$6,500 after unfair dismissal ruling.
- Tribunal said the dismissal was harsh and unreasonable.
- The case raised concerns about staff responses to theft.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Coles can argue that a clear rule against staff physically restraining suspected thieves protects workers and customers from injury, mistaken accusations and escalation. Enforcing that rule consistently may be especially important where trained security staff are absent, because employees should not be left to make risky split-second decisions or act as security officers.
The case against
Anderson’s case is that strict enforcement can be unfair when workers face theft, abuse or assaults without adequate security support, and that briefly restraining a suspected shoplifter may seem a proportionate response in the moment. Given his long service and the tribunal’s finding that dismissal was too harsh, Coles could have addressed the policy breach with a lesser penalty while reviewing how staff are protected.
Explained simply
Coles is one of Australia’s largest supermarket chains. Its stores have rules intended to keep staff and customers safe, including limits on when workers can physically intervene if they suspect someone of stealing.
The Fair Work Commission is Australia’s workplace tribunal, which hears disputes between workers and employers. Its decisions can weigh an employer’s workplace rules against the circumstances of an individual case.
The issue matters because supermarkets must address theft while managing the risk of violence and injury. The presence or absence of security staff can also affect how safe workers feel and how they respond to incidents.