Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 97/05
Hearing date 8 Feb 2005
Determination date 22 March 2005
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation P Teei ; P Tremewan
Location Auckland
Parties Papali'i v Cadbury Confectionary Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Altercation with co-worker - Co-worker had been causing problems in the past - Not all allegations or other witnesses' accounts put to applicant for comment - If supervisor had been more fully questioned previous issues with co-worker would have become apparent - Procedurally unfair - Since had not gathered all information not open to conclude was serious misconduct - Not open in all the circumstances to have dismissed applicant - Disparity of treatment between applicant and co-worker - Remedies - Contributory conduct 20 percent - Reinstatement ordered to former position or one comparable - No award for reimbursement of lost wages since not shown that applicant mitigated loss
Result Application granted ; Reinstatement ordered ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($10,000 reduced to $8,000) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s124
Cases Cited Ark Aviation v Newton [2001] ERNZ 133
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: aa 97_05.pdf [pdf 39 KB]