Forklift driver who was fired from Australia Post for being too FAT at 130kg fights for his job back
A 130kg forklift driver who was fired from Australia Post because he was too fat has hit out at the company for 'humiliating' him less than two weeks into the job.
Melbourne father-of-two Michael Van Cuylenburg, 55, landed a position at one of the postal giant's suburban mail sorting centres after being let go from his previous job during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Van Cuylenburg's thought he was progressing well as he was offered more shifts and even told the role could become full-time.
But within days the dad was out of work again after a medical examination found he was too heavy to man the company's forklifts - which have an operator weight limit of 120kg.
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Melbourne father-of-two Michael Van Cuylenburg was laid off from his job at Australia Post because he was deemed to heavy to drive the company's forklifts
Mr Van Cuylenburg said it was 'unfair' the company laid him off when he could clearly do the job
'The forklift I was driving was 2.5 tonnes. I didn't see myself as 2.5 tonnes,' he told A Current Affair.
'I think it's unfair for people like myself who can turn up and do the job and make a living... It's humiliating it's depressing.'
His sacking comes as Australia Post boss Christine Holgate resigned from her $1.5million-a-year job after it was revealed Cartier watches worth almost $20,000 were given to senior staff.
Mr Van Cuylenburg said he didn't need a luxury Cartier watch but simply wanted an honest job for honest pay.
'Even when I'm applying for jobs I'm thinking to myself "is this going to happen again?"' he said.
Australia Post has said it would not have been safe for Mr Van Cuylenburg to continue in his role.
The Melbourne father-of-two said he didn't need a luxury Cartier watch but simply wanted an honest job for honest pay
After-market seats like this one sold by retailer Harvey Norman online for $216 could have accommodated the father's weight
'The safety requirements and compliance ratings for powered forklifts are specified to a seat weight rating of 120kg,' a spokeswoman for the company told Daily Mail Australia.
'As Michael did not meet the pre-placement requirements, it would have been unsafe for him to continue in the role.'
Despite Australia Post's compliance rules, after-market seats like one sold by retailer Harvey Norman for $216 could have accommodated the father's weight.
Embattled Australia Post boss Christine Holgate has resigned from her top job after an investigation was launched into the organisation's gift and expenses culture
His laying off comes as the company comes under scrutiny over its gift and expenses culture.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison labelled the gifts 'disgraceful and appalling' in a fiery speech to parliament and declared if Ms Holgate did not wish to stand aside 'she can go'.
Ms Holgate later accused the prime minister of humiliating her and said there were no legal grounds for her standing aside.
However, Ms Holgate formally resigned from her post on Monday afternoon.
'I have offered today the chairman and board of Australia Post, with great sadness, my resignation as chief executive with immediate effect,' she said in a statement.
Ms Holgate will not be seeking financial compensation and has promised to cooperate with a four-week investigation into Australia Post being conducted by the federal finance and communications departments.