Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2012] NZERA Auckland 319
Hearing date 27 Aug 2012
Determination date 11 September 2012
Member T G Tetitaha
Representation A Brewer (in person) ; K Hay
Location Hamilton
Parties Brewer v Allied Investments Ltd t/a Allied Security
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Dismissal – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed by respondent – Triangular employment relationship – Whether valid 90 day trial period – Whether applicant new employee – Whether applicant employed as casual employee by respondent or joint venture partnership before signing permanent employment agreement with respondent – Whether respondent’s client instructed respondent to remove applicant from worksite – Dispute about wages and overtime – Whether applicant involved other employees in dispute with respondent – Frustration of contract – Security guard
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND –;UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL: Trial period provision in applicant’s employment agreement did not contain reference to inability of applicant to bring personal grievance or other legal proceedings. Applicant not new employee when signed permanent employment agreement with respondent. Trial period provision invalid. Dismissal unjustified. REMEDIES: No contributory conduct. Respondent to pay applicant $8,530 reimbursement of lost wages. $5,000 compensation appropriate.
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($8,530.20) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($5,000) ; Disbursements in favour of applicant ($71.56)(filing fee) ; No order for costs
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s67A;ERA s67B;ERA s103(1)(a);ERA s103A;ERA s103A(2);ERA s103A(3);ERA s103A(3)(a);ERA s103A(3)(b);ERA s103A(3)(c);ERA s103A(3)(d);ERA s124;ERA s128;ERA s128(1);ERA s128(1)(b);ERA s128(2);Partnership Act 1908;Partnership Act 1908 s9;Partnership Act 1908 s12
Cases Cited Carter Holt Harvey Ltd v Yukich [2005] ERNZ 300;Colosimo v Parker (2007) 8 NZELC 98,622;Finau v Carter Holt Building Supplies [1993] 2 ERNZ 971;Goodfellow v Building Connexion Ltd t/a ITM Building Centre [2010] NZEmpC 82;Mawley v Jorgensen t/a Barista the Espresso Bar unreported, D Asher, 28 August 2009, WA120/09;Muollo v Rotaru [1995] 2 ERNZ 414;NCR (NZ) Corp Ltd v Blowes [2005] ERNZ 932;New Zealand Federated Labourers and Related Trades Industrial Assoc of Workers v Tyndall [1964] NZLR 408;Smith v Stokes Valley Pharmacy (2009) Ltd [2010] ERNZ 253;Wilson v Promotional Systems Ltd [2011] NZERA Auckland 166
Number of Pages 14
PDF File Link: 2012_NZERA_Auckland_319.pdf [pdf 290 KB]