Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 38/04
Hearing date 26 Feb 2004
Determination date 02 April 2004
Member P R Stapp
Representation M Kirkeby ; S Hornsby
Location Palmerston North
Parties Montaperto v MidCentral District Health Board
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE - Applicant not contractually entitled to work overtime but regularly did so at discretion of employer - Employment issues arose over standard of dress, use of work phones, and falsification of time sheets - Overtime work removed without prior discussion - Made formally aware of decision one month later via another staff member - Telephoned team leader at night requesting explanation - Meeting following day - Follow-up letter from respondent setting out reasons for decision to cease overtime and reprimand over phone call to team leader - Respondent had discretion to cease overtime - Decision to exercise discretion unjustified action causing applicant disadvantage in employment - Fair and reasonable employer should have consulted over decision especially as applicant worked overtime regularly and withdrawal of overtime was for disciplinary reasons - Follow-up letter not unjustified given issues in employment, applicant's request for meeting, and fact that letter gave reasons for decision to cease overtime - Reasonable to include expectations of behaviour in relation to phone calls to team leader - Letter not disciplinary letter - Equity and good conscience - No order for compensation - Psychopaedic assistant
Result Application granted (Decision to cease overtime) ; Application dismissed (Follow-up letter) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s114(1)
Number of Pages 14
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