Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 36/04
Hearing date 8 Mar 2004 - 18 Mar 2004 (2 days)
Determination date 26 March 2004
Member D Asher
Representation P Cranney ; P May
Location Wellington
Parties Nahle v Recon Security Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Applicant suffered from migraines - Suffered attack when driving on duty - Pulled over for a rest - Turned off or down equipment due to noise being painful but advised communication site of this - When resumed duties did not use wand because beeping noise caused bad headache - Dismissed at subsequent meeting on two grounds of serious misconduct being falsifying time sheet claiming conducted patrol when actually asleep and sleeping while on duty - Applicant denied sleeping during rest period - Applicant's evidence preferred - Procedurally unfair - Defective investigation - Respondent not in position to fairly and reasonably conclude serious misconduct justifying dismissal - Remedies - Contributory conduct 10 percent - Using wand legitimate requirement of job - If applicant unable to use wand not fit to undertake normal duties and had responsibility to excuse himself from duty or advise of intention not to use - Applicant's actions not responsible for seriously deficient process - Two days wages owing - Security guard
Result Application granted ; Arrears of wages (2 days)(Quantum to be determined by parties) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($15,000 reduced to $13,500) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s124;ERA s160(3)
Cases Cited Panama v London Borough of Hackney [2003] IRLR 278;Smith v McCulloch and Partners [2003] 1 ERNZ 346;W & H Newspapers Ltd v Oram [2000] 2 ERNZ 448
Number of Pages 11
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