Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 186/05
Hearing date 24 Nov 2004
Determination date 19 May 2005
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation P Pa'u ; K Burson
Location Auckland
Parties Whyte v DG Services Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Comments of a sexual nature made to member of cleaning staff (C") - Applicant put picture of naked women in C's face and made sexual reference - Managing director ("L") was subjected to rude, aggressive and threatening behaviour from applicant - No pre-determination - Not ideal that L failed to tell applicant of conclusion that there had been serious misconduct and seek his response on the issue of penalty before proceeding to dismiss - However, applicant walked out of meeting before concluded - Given aggressive conduct to L reasonable to have completed process without further input from applicant - Harassment sufficiently serious to constitute serious misconduct (even though no express reference to it in employment agreement) - No disparity of treatment - Dismissal justified"
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: aa 186_05.pdf [pdf 33 KB]