Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No [2014] NZERA Wellington 34
Hearing date 25 Mar 2014
Determination date 15 April 2014
Member P R Stapp
Representation C Moses ; A Knowsley
Location Wellington
Parties Ngawharau v The Porirua Whanau Centre Trust
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Abandonment - Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed by respondent - Secondment - Whether applicant dismissed - Whether applicant re-instated and coerced to resign - Support social worker
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND -;UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL: Applicant entered into arrangement for secondment and was not unhappy about secondment. Applicant not dismissed at meeting. Even if respondent's operations manager referred to applicant as liability", operations manager not complicit in wanting to remove applicant from respondent. Respondent genuinely believed applicant made decision to resign and advice to applicant to get representation not consistent with respondent coercing applicant to resign. Respondent attempted to organise meetings and entitled to rely on information that applicant not returning. Applicant did not confirm resignation or report to work for three weeks. Reasonable for respondent to conclude applicant abandoned employment. No dismissal."
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: 2014_NZERA_Wellington_34.pdf [pdf 152 KB]