Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 2/05
Hearing date 21 Dec 2004
Determination date 06 January 2005
Member D Asher
Representation M Williams ; D McLeod
Location Napier
Parties Hamilton v Taradale Tavern Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Applicant slipped and hurt back and went on ACC - Respondent alleged was told by co-worker that applicant told her he was going to slip over on broken tile and go on ACC and that he was sick of working - Applicant denied conversation with co-worker - Respondent preferred co-workers account of conversation - Applicant dismissed - Failure by respondent to reasonably and fairly assess applicant's consistent denial of faking the accident and the objective evidence in support of his position - Applicant was offered option of resigning or being dismissed early on in disciplinary process - Strongly suggestive of predetermination and absence of proper investigation - Failure to advise applicant of co-worker's report of conversation and provide with copy of statement - Applicant denied opportunity to respond when matter first emerged - Dismissal unjustified - SEXUAL HARASSMENT - Alleged sexual harassment by one of respondent's shareholders - Absence of adequate evidence - In event necessary to do so would need to hear further evidence - Bar manager
Result Application granted ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($5,000) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s124
Cases Cited W&H Newspapers Ltd v Oram [2000] 2 ERNZ 448
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: wa 2_05.pdf [pdf 38 KB]