Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 456/05
Hearing date 4 Aug 2005 - 31 Aug 2005 (2 days)
Determination date 30 November 2005
Member K J Anderson
Representation S Hood ; G Steele
Location Auckland
Parties Wright v Domaine Restaurant
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Constructive dismissal - Applicant's close friend died soon after she began work for respondent - Applicant requested time off to attend funeral - Conflict over what happened next - Authority accepted respondent's version - Respondent declined to allow time off and informed applicant she was only allowed three days' bereavement leave in event of death of relative - Applicant then told respondent close friend was also family member and respondent allowed her to take time off - Respondent learned close friend was not a relative and arranged meeting with applicant - Applicant wrongly perceived that respondent did not believe she had been at a funeral - Respondent told applicant that in future taking time off without entitlement was not acceptable - Applicant subsequently called respondent to sort out roster and alleged she believed she was dismissed - Respondent alleged that he confirmed when she was next on roster - Onus on applicant to show dismissal did occur given she claimed it was constructive - Applicant did not resign but alleged she was informed there was no work available - However duty roster was evidence that work was available for applicant - All that remained was for applicant to contact restaurant and confirm starting time - No dismissal - Not reasonable in circumstances for respondent to make contact with applicant as to her intentions - No personal grievance - Chef
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited NZ Amalgamated Engineering etc IUOW v Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited [1991] 2 ERNZ 267
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: aa 456_05.pdf [pdf 34 KB]