"It's a scientific fact and I was merely pointing that out, that that's perhaps why you wouldn't feel the cold like we're feeling it."

But having already received two formal warnings and being sent home from work on multiple occasions for conduct earlier in the year, the incident spiralled to the point where she was terminated.

"This is not the first time you have been cautioned and given a formal warning with regard to your behaviour at ORC International," a letter of termination read.

"The two complaints mentioned in this letter are not isolated incidents and represent further – and more serious – breaches of ORC’s policies and procedures, especially in regard to bullying and harassment."

A month prior to the final event, the employee sent the supervisor a Facebook message after having been sent home for violating the company's mobile phone policy after a number of warnings.

“If keeping your job means I have to lose mine, it’s a sad state of affairs. I realise I broke the rule and therefore pay for it, in fact, paid nearly $100 for it, which I can’t afford," the message read.

"Again, I take full responsibility. I might add, I was merely glancing ... I find the rule demeaning and childish. I know you are a stickler for the rules but I wonder if they pay you enough to feel good about undercutting me? I don’t know. I am so frustrated with this job I hardly ever feel like coming in.”

A witness told the Fair Work Commission that on one occasion, the employee "protested loudly for about 10 minutes" after being sent home, before making a comment querying whether the supervisors would send all staff home if they all pulled out their phones together.

Although she did not deny making the comments or sending messages on Facebook, the woman said that the official reasons for her dismissal were a proxy for the real reason and that she was dismissed for being “anti the organisation” and “challenging the guidelines and just pushing those boundaries”.

ORC International was contacted for comment.