A former senior lawyer employed by Boeing Australia has filed legal action against the aerospace company, alleging she was unlawfully dismissed after raising concerns about the company's response to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack in December 2025.
The case has been lodged in the Federal Court of Australia by Margery Granofsky, who worked for Boeing for more than two decades and most recently served as Senior Legal Counsel in Sydney. She is seeking compensation valued at almost $500,000, claiming Boeing breached Australian workplace laws by dismissing her after she repeatedly complained about the company's handling of employee welfare following the attack.
According to court documents, Granofsky, who is Jewish and lives in Sydney's eastern suburbs near Bondi, believed Boeing should have directly checked on the wellbeing of staff affected by the terrorist attack. The attack, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in December 2025, left numerous people dead or injured and prompted widespread concern within Australia's Jewish community.
Granofsky alleges Boeing had previously contacted employees following major emergencies, including the 2014 Lindt Café siege, the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbing attack, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing welfare messages and support resources. She claims a similar personalised welfare process was not implemented after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack despite the significant impact on Jewish employees.
The lawsuit states that after raising her concerns on three separate occasions, no meaningful action was taken. Instead, Granofsky alleges she experienced adverse treatment before her employment was terminated in January 2026. She claims Boeing cited poor performance as the reason for her dismissal, but argues the explanation was false and that the real reason was retaliation for making workplace complaints protected under Australian employment law.
The former lawyer also alleges Boeing took adverse action after she requested several periods of personal leave between June and December 2025, including leave related to stress and trauma following the Bondi attack. Court documents further claim her supervising manager became increasingly critical of her work, closely monitored her performance and subjected her to workplace bullying before her dismissal.
Granofsky is seeking compensation for lost salary, superannuation, annual performance bonuses and share-based incentives that she says she would have received had her employment continued. She is also seeking civil penalties and legal costs if the court finds Boeing breached Australia's workplace protections.
Boeing has strongly rejected the allegations. A company spokesperson said Boeing "cares deeply for the safety and wellbeing of our team" and maintained that employees are able to raise concerns without fear of retaliation. The company is expected to formally file its defence later this month, while mediation between the parties is anticipated to occur in August.
The case is expected to examine employers' obligations to support staff following traumatic events, particularly where employees may be directly affected because of their location, religion or community connections. The outcome could provide further guidance on workplace protections relating to employee welfare and protected complaints under Australian employment law.
