Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 419/04
Hearing date 5 Nov 2004
Determination date 22 December 2004
Member R A Monaghan
Representation E Hoffmann (in person) ; M Kamphorst
Location Auckland
Parties Hoffmann v The Prema Charitable Trust
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Alleged redundancy created because of strained relationship between applicant and school principal - Respondent alleged reason was drop in school enrolments - No direct evidence parties' relationship was motive for redundancy - If wrong, respondent had at least mixed motives and predominate motive was genuine commercial decision - Applicant dissatisfied with financial information provided to justify decision - Provision of detailed financial information not mandatory but unwilling employers ran risk of not meeting burden of justifying redundancy - Good faith required real consultation - Would have been appropriate to provide applicant with more information supporting redundancy given her close involvement in cost control and budgets - Applicant's written response to redundancy only superficially addressed - Consultation process flawed - Exacerbated by way applicant learnt of redundancy by reading draft letter printed from common printer - Dismissal unjustified - Academic administrator
Result Application granted ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($4,000) ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Aoraki Corporation Ltd v McGavin [1998] 1 ERNZ 601;Coutts Cars Ltd v Baguley [2001] ERNZ 660 ; [2002] 2 NZLR 533;Forest Park (NZ) Ltd v Adams [2000] 2 ERNZ 310;G N Hale & Son Ltd v Wellington etc Caretakers etc IUOW [1991] 1 NZLR 151
Number of Pages 8
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