Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 88/03
Hearing date 16 May 2003 - 30 Jul 2003 (2 days)
Determination date 12 August 2003
Member D Asher
Representation S Kissling ; R Webby
Location Nelson
Parties Varney v Tasman Regional Sports Trust
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Applicant employed part time on 28 hours per week - Fixed term employment subject to continued funding - Job advertisement stated hours may increase - Employment continued beyond first fixed term - Applicant advised position expanding and recommended her hours be reduced and another part time worker employed - 28 hour week position disestablished and applicant invited to apply for new 40 hour week position - Did not apply for new position - Technical breach of s64 Employment Relations Act 2000 - No evidence breach disadvantaged applicant - Fixed term employment properly ceased - Genuine and reasonable funding reasons for specifying end to applicants employment - No evidence to support applicant's expectation of ongoing employment - Fair and reasonable to extend position into full-time one - Consistent with statement in job advertisement that hours may increase - No basis to suggest decision taken to deliberately thwart applicant of employment - No unjustified dismissal - Applicant not humiliated by termination process - Difficulties arose from applicants strong dislike toward CEO - Senior occupational therapist
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s64;ERA s66
Cases Cited Clarke v Norske Skog Tasman Ltd [2003] 2 ERNZ 213;G N Hale & Son Ltd v Wellington etc Caretakers etc IUOW [1991] 1 NZLR 151
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: ca 88_03.pdf [pdf 47 KB]