An employee working as a health care assistant for the elderly has been stood down after she failed to undertake a mental health assessment. The employee sent her manager 46 emails containing “spiritual commentary”. The emails warned the employer of the rise of the anti-Christ and made reference to the employee’s status as a prophet.

The Employment Relations Authority held that the employee was not discriminated against or unjustifiably disadvantaged in her workplace because of her religious beliefs.

The ERA held that the employer’s decision to require the employee to undergo a mental health assessment arose because of concerns over the employee’s health and patient safety, not because of her strong Christian faith. The ERA found that the tone, content and number of emails gave the employer legitimate grounds for concern that the employee may be suffering from an impairment.