Lee proves getting sacked is a bad way to avoid the early commute (9)
I believe the answer is:
oversleep
'a bad way to avoid the early commute' is the definition.
(a worker who oversleeps might avoid their commute)
'lee proves getting sacked' is the wordplay.
'getting' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'sacked' is an anagram indicator.
'lee'+'proves'='leeproves'
'leeproves' with letters rearranged gives 'OVERSLEEP'.
'is' is the link.
(Other definitions for oversleep that I've seen before include "Stay out too long" , "start being late?" , "Wake too late" , "entranced too long" , "miss breakfast?" .)