Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No [2012] NZERA Christchurch 32
Hearing date 2 Dec 2011
Determination date 22 February 2012
Member P Cheyne
Representation S McAuslin ; V Purgaric, C Moyle
Location Dunedin
Parties McAuslin v George Weston Foods (NZ) Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by respondent – Respondent regional sales manager (“M”) received complaint about applicant not completing in-store merchandising duties – Respondent territory manager (“J”) sent letter to applicant on day of applicant’s engagement party asking for attendance at meeting to discuss unsatisfactory work performance – M sent applicant further disciplinary letter which set out additional allegation of falsified timesheets – Applicant resigned – Applicant claimed J motivated by desire for revenge against applicant due to involvement in another person’s complaint against J – Authority found no evidence that J had axe to grind with applicant other than concern about standard of work done by applicant – Found document trail demonstrated routine handling of potentially disciplinary matter – Found while J may have been improperly motivated and applicant may have had complete answer to allegation circumstances were such that any employer would have initiated disciplinary investigation just as respondent did – Found timing of first disciplinary letter unfortunate rather than unjustified – Found M did not know of basis on which applicant filled in timesheet – Found in all circumstances known to respondent at time any employer would have initiated second disciplinary allegation – No disadvantage – Merchandiser
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: 2012_NZERA_Christchurch_32.pdf [pdf 32 KB]