Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2018] NZERA Auckland 13
Hearing date 26-Sep-17
Determination date 15 January 2018
Member R Arthur
Representation W Reid ; K Ashcroft
Location Tauranga
Parties Smith v Wildzog Investments Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Redundancy – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed by respondent – Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by respondents actions – Account Manager
Abstract AUTHORITY FOUND – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE: Applicant unjustifiably disadvantaged by respondent changing his role from accounts manager to a sales-focussed role without consultation. Change of role and change of pay rate was a unilateral variation of terms and conditions. Process leading to dismissal for redundancy was unfair. Dismissal unjustified. REMEDIES: No contributory conduct. Respondent to pay applicant $11,639 reimbursement of lost wages. $12,000 compensation appropriate.
Result Applications granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($11,639) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($12,000) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes Companies Act 1993 s318 Companies Act 1993 s321 Companies Act 1993 s329 ERA s124 ERA s128(2) ERA s128(3) ERA s174
Cases Cited Dellaway-Smith v Wildzog Investments Ltd [2017] NZERA Auckland 163 Dellaway-Smith v Saunders [2018] NZERA Auckland 12 Fagotti v Acme & Co Ltd [2015] NZEmpC 135 Hall v Dionex Pty Ltd [2015] NZEmpC 29 PBO Ltd (formerly Rush Security) v Da Cruz [2015] ERNZ 808 (EmpC) Sam’s Fukuyama Food Services Ltd v Zhang [2011] NZCA 608 Xtreme Dining Ltd v Dewar [2016] NZEmpC 136
Number of Pages 13
PDF File Link: 2018_NZERA_Auckland_13.pdf [pdf 339 KB]