Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 318/02
Hearing date 21 Oct 2002
Determination date 30 October 2002
Member WRC Gardiner
Representation J Watson ; V Campbell
Location Auckland
Parties Fehlmann v Waikato Institute of Technology
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Poor performance - Two previous warnings - Students raised concern" with appropriate member of staff - Failure by staff member to properly apply student complaints procedure - Concern directed to Head of Department before opportunity for initial resolution - Meeting held with students to offer support and request any written complaints - Applicant's needs and rights disregarded at meeting - One written complaint submitted - One out of three decision-makers discussed complaint with student over phone - No discussion with students who had not submitted complaints - Meeting with applicant - Applicant's teaching ability observed after decision to dismiss - Dismissal not open to fair and reasonable employer - No contributory conduct - Lecturer"
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($12,495) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($15,000) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s103(1)(b);ERA s124
Cases Cited Drummond v Coca Cola Bottlers NZ [1995] 2 ERNZ 229;Northern Distribution Union v Armourguard Security Ltd [1989] 3 NZILR 262;Phipps v New Zealand Fishing Industry Board [1996] 1 ERNZ 195;Tupu v Romano's Pizzas (Wellington) Ltd [1995] 2 ERNZ 266;W & H Newspapers Ltd v Oram [2000] 2 ERNZ 448; [2001] 3 NZLR 29
Number of Pages 17
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