Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 76/05
Hearing date 6 Apr 2005
Determination date 24 May 2005
Member H Doyle
Representation R Thompson ; P Shaw
Location Christchurch
Parties Warren v United Fisheries Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Summary dismissal - Applicant refused respondent's instruction to clean cafeteria to cover another cleaner's absence - Alleged refusal because of elbow discomfort - Applicant did not mention elbow discomfort to respondent when instruction given - Applicant told respondent that as grade 2 cleaner she would not perform grade 1 work - Grading not concerned with tasks but with ability to work unsupervised and competently and applicant had undertaken cover of other cleaner's absences on other occasions without complaint - Instruction was reasonable and lawful - Refusal was deliberate and wilful - Procedural unfairness in first meeting but subsequent meeting was genuine attempt to reconsider events leading to dismissal - Open and deliberate refusal to obey lawful and reasonable instruction could justify dismissal - No personal grievance - Grade 2 cleaner
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited NZ Shipwrights etc Union v Honda NZ Ltd [1989] 3 NZILR 794
Number of Pages 4
PDF File Link: ca 76_05.pdf [pdf 24 KB]