Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 297/04
Hearing date 24 Feb 2004
Determination date 16 September 2004
Member L Robinson
Representation G Gowland ; K Binnie
Location Auckland
Parties Patterson v IBM New Zealand Ltd
Summary DISPUTE - Application for redundancy compensation - Eighteen years employment with respondent - Two separate periods of parental leave with period of part-time work prior to second leave - Made redundant during period of second leave - Terms and conditions of employment silent on redundancy compensation - Policy known to applicant calculated compensation on basis of full-time salary for periods worked full-time and part-time salary for periods worked part-time - Policy change while applicant absent on second leave - New calculation on basis of salary at time of redundancy - Applicant compensated on basis of part-time salary - Employment agreement deemed period of part-time work following first parental leave additional personal leave of absence" rather than part-time employment - Subsequent second parental leave also leave from full-time employment - Status as full-time employee retained throughout - Redundant position was full-time position - Redundancy compensation to be calculated on that basis - Difference in redundancy compensation plus interest due and owing - PENALTY - Punitive response not warranted in disputed circumstances - No penalty awarded - Delivery manager"
Result Application granted ; Shortfall in redundancy compensation ($18,342.13 net) ; Interest (7.5%) ; Costs reserved
Statutes Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 s51
Cases Cited Flight Attendants and Related Services Association Inc v Air NZ Ltd [1993] 2 ERNZ 1
Number of Pages 9
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