Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2015] NZERA Auckland 305
Hearing date 16-Jul-15
Determination date 30 September 2015
Member Vicki Campbell
Representation M Beazley ; E Chey
Location Auckland
Parties Singh v Compass Group New Zealand Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Serious Misconduct – Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by offer of redeployment and unjustifiably dismissed by respondent – Disparity of treatment - Food Service Manager
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND –;UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL: Offer of redeployment to smaller kitchen likely to have been made to help applicant manage stress. Respondent unaware of applicant’s disciplinary issues at time offer made. No unjustified disadvantage. Applicant’s acts and omissions regarding food safety risked health of patients and affected respondent’s compliance with Food Safety Programme. Applicant more senior than other employees involved in problems and had responsibility for them. Reasonable to treat applicant differently in disciplinary process. No unjustified disparity of treatment. Applicant offered choice of dismissal or redeployment but refused to be redeployed. Respondent actively tried to keep applicant in employment. Respondent acted as fair and reasonable employer would. Respondent allowed applicant to respond to all concerns and acted with open mind at all times so no pre-determination evident. Dismissal justified.
Result Applications dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103A;ERA s103A(3);ERA s103A(5);ERA s174E
Cases Cited Angus v Ports of Auckland Ltd [2011] NZEmpC 160, [2011] ERNZ 466;Chief Executive of the Department of Inland Revenue v Buchanan [2005] ERNZ 767 (CA);Harris v The Warehouse Ltd [2014] NZEmpC 188, (2014) 12 NZELR 526;Secretary for Justice v Dodd [2010] NZEmpC 84, (2010) 7 NZELR 578
Number of Pages 16
PDF File Link: 2015_NZERA_Auckland_305.pdf [pdf 170 KB]