Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 195/04
Hearing date 2 Jun 2004 - 3 Jun 2004 (2 days)
Determination date 04 June 2004
Member L Robinson
Representation M Hanif ; S Dyhrberg
Location Auckland
Parties Sharma v Vehicle Testing NZ Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Constructive dismissal - Alleged threatening comments by area manager - Applicant resigned" following final confrontation - Insufficient evidence of harassment, threats or bullying by area manager - Asking applicant whether he would "stay or go" not choice between resigning or being dismissed - No breach of duty by respondent entitling applicant to regard employment as at an end - Applicant initially misunderstood meaning of "resign" - Resigned in proper sense only after taking legal advice - Resigned of own volition - No constructive dismissal - BREACH OF CONTRACT - Counterclaim by respondent for failure to give notice and work out notice period - Agreement provided employee only liable to work out notice period or make payment in lieu "if required to do so" - Respondent never required applicant to work out notice period - Applicant not liable in respect of failure - PENALTY - Penalty sought for applicant's failure to give notice - Failure to give notice not deliberate or wilful - Penalty not appropriate - ARREARS OF WAGES - Respondent to pay applicant final wages without deduction - Vehicle inspector"
Result Application dismissed (Unjustified dismissal) ; Application granted (Arrears of wages) ; Arrears of wages ($783.27) ; Counterclaim dismissed ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s135
Cases Cited Auckland & Gisborne Amalgamated Society of Shop Employees and Related Trades etc IUOW v Woolworths (NZ) Ltd [1985] 2 NZLR 372;Electric Power Board v Auckland Provincial District Local Authorities Officers' IUOW [1994] 1 ERNZ 168 ; [1994] 2 NZLR 415;PPP Industries Ltd v Doggett [1996] 2 ERNZ 234;Ruapehu District Council v Northern Local Government Officers Union unreported Castle J, 16 November 1992, WEC 54/92
Number of Pages 9
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