Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 31/06
Hearing date 3 Nov 2005
Determination date 10 February 2006
Member M Urlich
Representation B Quarrie ; M Broadbelt
Location Auckland
Parties Makiha v Northern Tree Harvesters Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Applicant required under employment agreement to carry out daily checks of truck including of oil level - Respondent concluded that applicant failed to maintain required oil check on truck and this failure resulted in serious damage to engine - Dismissed applicant for serious misconduct - Applicant alleged respondent failed to properly consider all possible explanations for damage sustained to truck's engine - Authority satisfied that respondent fairly considered alternative explanations - Applicant alleged he should have had opportunity to address decision-maker - Respondent's manager conducted investigation, reached conclusion and put recommendation to respondent's Board to vote - Manager put recommendation to Board to seek support for difficult decision but this not same as relinquishing decision-making role to Board - Decision to dismiss one that would have been made by reasonable employer
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: aa 31_06.pdf [pdf 29 KB]