Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2016] NZERA Auckland 406
Hearing date 22-Nov-16
Determination date 12 December 2016
Member E Robinson
Representation K Usmar ; A Till
Location Tauranga
Parties Millin v Intertruck Distributors (NZ) Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Incapacity – Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by failure to provide gradual return to work programme after agreement to do so and failure to provide wage and time records on request – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed by respondent – Fitter/welder
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND –UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL: Applicant not employee at time when gradual return to work due to commence or when wage and time records requested. Applicant not unjustifiably disadvantaged. Applicant unable to return to work for 30 days. Possible for applicant to return sooner but only on light duties. Dismissal substantively justified. Respondent failed to give applicant opportunity to respond to allegations of potential resignation, did not tell applicant about proposal of dismissal or give applicant chance to respond, or consider applicant’s response. Dismissal unjustified. REMEDIES: No contributory conduct. Respondent to pay applicant $2,000 reimbursement of lost wages. $7,500 compensation appropriate.
Result Application granted (unjustified dismissal) ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($2,000) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($7,500) ; Application dismissed (unjustified disadvantage) ; Disbursements in favour of applicant ($71.56)(filing fee) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103(1)(b) ; ERA s103A(3) ; ERA s128(3)
Cases Cited Scissor Platforms (1997) Ltd v Brien [1999] 2 ERNZ 672 (EmpC)
Number of Pages 11
PDF File Link: 2016_NZERA_Auckland_406_amended.pdf [pdf 207 KB]