Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 226/05
Hearing date 20 Jun 2005
Determination date 21 June 2005
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation Y Muller ; RK Wood
Location Auckland
Parties Muller v Taam Gardens Ltd and Ors
Other Parties Lowe, Lowe
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Applicant joined first respondent's directors as second respondents - After hearing second respondents' evidence, applicant conceded he was employed by first respondent - UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Applicant told business struggling and his hours would be cut from four days per week to three - Applicant told respondent he was unable to accept reduced hours and considered himself redundant - Respondent considered applicant abandoned his employment and not entitled to pay in lieu of notice - Respondent had changed terms and conditions of applicant's job and effect of this was that applicant already redundant - Applicant should have received reasonable notice and was entitled to one week's pay in lieu of notice - No more extensive consultation required because respondent was small business, going broke, and did not have many options - Redundancy only procedurally unfair in respect of failure to give notice - COSTS - Applicant incurred costs of $2,200 - Respondents incurred costs of $1,000 - Applicant entitled to modest contribution to costs from first respondent but second respondents entitled to modest contribution from applicant - Costs to lie where they fall
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages (in lieu of notice)($440) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($500) ; No order for costs
Number of Pages 3
PDF File Link: aa 226_05.pdf [pdf 15 KB]