Rubber Ducks Pentagram Prank Leads to Unfair Dismissal Victory
A hotel duty manager who was dismissed for arranging rubber ducks around a pentagram in a playful mock summoning ritual has successfully won her unfair dismissal case. Emma Donato, who worked for the Australian Venue Company at the Cleveland Sands Hotel in east Brisbane, was terminated following the incident which her manager claimed evoked satanic symbols.
The Playful Prank That Sparked Controversy
Emma Donato began placing small rubber ducks in staff areas shortly after starting her position in June 2025, describing it as a "playful attempt to lift morale" during what she told the Fair Work Commission was an "increasingly stressful" period for the team. The situation escalated on July 3 when she arranged a display featuring rubber ducks and a hand-drawn pentagram on her manager's desk.
The display was humorously referred to as "ducks engaged in a summoning ritual to summon more ducks," with Donato sharing plans to bring in a larger duck the following day. However, her manager submitted a formal complaint that included photographic evidence of the scene, writing: "I have just arrived to work to find the attached picture on my desk. No matter if it seems funny with the duckies, it is a symbol evoking the devil."
Escalation and Dismissal
The manager further explained she had "past experiences that terrify me of these ritualistic actions," though Donato testified they worked their shift that day "without issue." When rumors of an HR complaint surfaced on July 6, Donato avoided discussing it with her manager, who she said showed "no signs of discomfort."
In an Instagram group chat with current and former Cleveland Sands staff, Donato's wife Serena—who also worked for Australian Venue Company at Mansfield Tavern Brisbane—asked for clarification about the incident, writing: "Alright I have to ask: who knows what about the aftermath of the ducks LMFAAAOOO... Maybe needless to say, Emma's spooked and it'd be real cool if it didn't get gossiped about at worrrkkk I beg I beg."
These messages were shared with Donato's manager, who then informed the company's people and culture team that "they were mocking [her] about the pentagram incident." Over subsequent days, Donato received formal letters regarding the allegations and texted an apology to her manager before a disciplinary meeting, expressing regret if the incident had caused harm.
Following the meeting, both Emma Donato and her wife Serena were dismissed from their positions. The couple later discovered that in August, Donato's manager had publicly shared an image of a new tattoo featuring "the very pentagram shape that she and [Australian Venco Company] claim to have caused her distress."
Fair Work Commission Ruling
The Donatos successfully appealed their dismissal before Commissioner Chris Simpson on February 5. In his findings, Commissioner Simpson stated: "[Emma] Donato consistently stated that the reason she had been placing ducks around the workplace was to boost morale of the team as a whole... I accept her submission that while her prank may have been unwise it was not intended to be malicious."
He added that her behavior did not constitute bullying under the Fair Work Act and accepted that Serena Donato was unaware of the manager's distress, finding her group chat messages did not amount to "bullying or mockery."
Regarding the manager's pentagram tattoo, Commissioner Simpson issued a pointed observation: "I simply make the observation that this seems somewhat incongruent with the level of impact the [manager] appears to have communicated to the [company], that the incident had on her."
The Australian Venue Company was ordered to pay each woman six weeks' compensation, totaling $8,405.76 for Emma and $7,050.00 for Serena.
Legal Perspectives and Company Response
Employment lawyer Roxanne Hart commented on the case via TikTok, emphasizing: "Not every breach of policy is a valid reason for termination... The federal commission said that [the dismissal] wasn't essentially a proportional response to terminate the employee for the practical joke."
Australian Venue Company acknowledged the decision in a statement, saying: "We will review the findings carefully and continue to look for ways to improve our processes to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all employees. As a company, we have a zero tolerance approach to bullying and harassment and are committed to creating a safe, respectful and supportive workplace."
The company added that given privacy considerations for those involved, they would not be providing further comment at this time.
