Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 163/04
Hearing date 20 Oct 2003
Determination date 12 May 2004
Member K J Anderson
Representation S Stewart ; A Armstrong, M Sharp
Location Auckland
Parties Dowdall v Tauranga Women's Refuge Inc
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Dismissal on medical grounds and because of alleged unsatisfactory service/serious misconduct - Additional ground that relationship principles underpinning employment agreement had been breached by applicant - Fixed term contract - Applicant alleged workplace stress - Difficulties working with new manager - Counselling then sick leave - Conveyed wish to return to work but not until safe environment - Wrote letter outlining concerns and criticising manager - Strategies to facilitate applicant's return to work by Core Group within respondent - Incident where applicant called manager to crisis situation but was nothing urgent about situation - Manager unhappy about decision and advocated termination of applicant's employment - Applicant dismissed - Dismissal so unfair and unreasonable was clearly substantively and procedurally unjustified - Remedies - Fact that respondent non-profit organisation and funds not readily available taken into account - No mitigation of loss - ARREARS OF HOLIDAY PAY - Claim dismissed - Women's Refuge advocate
Result Application granted (Unjustified dismissal) ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($6,597.50)(13 weeks) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($4,000) ; Application dismissed (Arrears of holiday pay) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s124
Number of Pages 8
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