A JOBSEEKER ordered to attend a meeting while suffering food poisoning vomited on the company’s facilities and upset workers.

After falling ill from eating dodgy treats from a local store, Fremantle’s Nicholas Gribble called job provider Communicare — contracted by Centrelink — to postpone his appointment, but as he didn’t have a doctor’s certificate was told to turn up. The company’s policy is that a “good reason” must be provided for cancelling an appointment, and a certificate is required to verify illness.

Failing to attend without providing a certificate meant Mr Gribble faced losing income support for eight weeks, “which would mean that I can’t pay my rent and I have to move out,” he said. “But I wouldn’t be able to find somewhere to stay, meaning I would become homeless and lose all my possessions.”

Mr Gribble acknowledges he had time to go to the doctor’s but didn’t want to go to the expense and hassle.

His appointment with Communicare was to discuss setting up an online business as a blogger. His vomiting caused Communicare agents to label his behaviour “rude” and “inappropriate”.

Mr Gribble is engaged in an ongoing dispute with Communicare and Centrelink over what he claims are “ambiguous” documents related to his attempts to establish his business.

by MARTA PASCUAL JUANOLA