Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 120/05
Hearing date 25 Jan 2005
Determination date 08 September 2005
Member P Montgomery
Representation J Fitchett, A Challis, L Penno
Location Christchurch
Parties Osborne v Crop and Food Research Institute Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Applicant alleged redundancy substantively and procedurally unjustified - Research positions with respondent depended on funding - Insufficient funding led to proposal that applicant's position be disestablished - Respondent sought feedback from applicant about proposal which applicant agreed to give - However no feedback received from applicant - Position disestablished - Parties' collective employment agreement required respondent to review other opportunities for applicant within organisation - No suitable vacancies existed so respondent gave applicant notice - At investigation meeting applicant accepted lack of funding justified respondent declaring role surplus to requirements - Genuine redundancy - Respondent did not predetermine disestablishment but sought to secure further funding - Investigated every option available before declaring role redundant - No personal grievance - PENALTY - Respondent sought penalty for breach of good faith - Applicant breached obligations of good faith by twice refusing to provide input into consultative process, having given undertaking to do so - Declined to order penalty because Authority of view that applicant adopted her position in reliance on inappropriate advice - Microbiology Research Associate
Result Applications dismissed ; Costs reserved
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: ca 120_05.pdf [pdf 40 KB]