Aussie waitress wins payout because boss 'ghosted' her with no warning after she worked at Italian restuarant for nearly two decades

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 10:21, 2 July 2026 | Updated: 10:23, 2 July 2026 The Fair Work Commission has ordered an Italian restaurant to pay its former worker $8,615 in compensation after 'ghosting' her. Lorraine Knight spent 18 years working at Manos in Paradise Point, on the Gold Coast, before it rebranded to Bibi's Italian Restaurant. The FWC this week heard that following the transition, under restaurateur Ben Kanaghines' company Bibis Adventures, Ms Knight stopped being assigned her regular shifts. The ex-employee, who worked a minimum of 15 hours a week, told the commission she attempted to text Mr Kanaghines in January 2026, after the rebrand was complete in August 2025. In one message, Ms Knight wrote: 'Am I not working at all today? I have had all my shifts cut with no prior notice or explanation as to why. I show up for my shift, just to have to come straight back home.' Instead, the restauranteur sent a text the following day, which read: 'Breakfast at bibis Has made me exhausted! I won't open before 12pm again. 'My apologies, I've tried to give as many hours to you as possible, but I've never guaranteed. The Fair Work Commission found Lorraine Knight was 'ghosted' by her boss at Bibi's Italian Restaurant (above) after working there for 18 years 'November/ December have been a disaster. Now it's about my survival, long term … I cannot afford wages before 12pm.' Ms Knight asked Mr Kanaghines to clarify what he meant, to which he said: 'Yep I f**ked up and I'm failing! Now I cut everyone and run.' The texts left Ms Knight confused about her employment status with the restaurant but Mr Kanaghines refused to respond to any other messages. She assumed she'd been sacked after failing to receive any further communication about her regular shifts. In his submission to the FWC, Mr Kanaghines defended his lack of response by arguing that he does not like using phones or texting people. He also claimed to believe it was wrong for employees to text their boss. Mr Kanaghines' submitted evidence also made personal attacks at Ms Knight for driving a 'hotted up hatchback' which featured a Playboy logo sticker.  'Mr Kanaghines' statement also included hearsay evidence from other employees and their views on Ms Knight,' Commissioner Pearl Lim said. 'Specifically, that she was 'playing the poor victim' and that she has a 'hotted up hatchback' with Playboy logos on it. 'Mr Kanaghines' statement also details how he did not like Ms Knight's son-in-law and how he did not have 'much time' for Ms Knight after her son-in-law dropped Ms Knight off at the Restaurant in a 'big hotted up ute truck'.' The restaurant owner had also taken a swipe at Ms Knight for receiving Centrelink payments.  'Mr Kanaghines further stated that he did not agree to employing someone who earned money through Centrelink and a job,' Commissioner Lim said. 'Mr Kanaghines also noted that he does not like phones and does not like to text.  'Further, he does not believe that employees should text their employer.' The FWC ruled Ms Knight had been unfairly dismissed as her termination was not properly communicated to her, meaning she had no chance to respond.  'As Bibis effectively ghosted Ms Knight, it is obvious that Ms Knight was never informed of a reason for the dismissal and not given an opportunity to respond,' Commissioner Lim said. She added Mr Kanaghines' criticism of Ms Knight's car and the Playboy logo were 'clearly not valid reasons' for dismissal. Commissioner Lim further found there was no 'serious issue' related to Ms Knight's conduct or capacity at work. The FWC ordered the restaurant to pay Ms Knight $8,615 in compensation. It calculated the figure by using her minimum 15 hours a week for six months' work. 'It is unclear why Ms Knight was dismissed,' Commissioner Lim said. 'At no point in this proceeding has Bibis explained why it dismissed Ms Knight.' Mr Kanaghines is not personally liable for the payment to Ms Knight, his company is. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.