Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 30/01
Determination date 05 June 2001
Member S Bathgate
Representation PJ Bartlett ; A Wilson
Location Wellington
Parties MacDonald v Lever Rexona New Zealand Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Alleged unfair and biased redundancy process - Choice of selection process and selection criteria given to staff - Voluntary redundancy - Information on individual redundancy entitlements given - Employees, including applicant, with lowest scores selected for redundancy despite others volunteering - CEC allowed for voluntary and selected redundancies - Criteria in CEC not exclusive - Assessment of performance to be carried out in good faith with clear communication to staff - Unaware of adverse views held at time of selection - Fair selection process to involve other managers in formal manner - Process of checks and balances needed - Choice of process more illusory than real - Material available to assist formation of assessments not utilised - Assessment not robust enough to ensure no bias - Measures to minimise risk of subjective assessment not adopted - Selection process procedurally unfair - Reinstatement sought and practicable - Manufacturer
Result Application granted ; Reinstatement ordered ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($5,000) ; No order for costs
Statutes ERA s101(c);ERA s125;ERA s125(2)
Cases Cited Baguley v Coutts Cars Ltd [2000] 2 ERNZ 409
Number of Pages 6
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