Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 36/06
Hearing date 6 Oct 2005
Determination date 14 February 2006
Member K J Anderson
Representation JA Jones (in person) ; D Gunson (in person)
Location Auckland
Parties Jones v Gunson
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Serious misconduct - Respondent owned and operated locally produced complimentary newspaper - Respondent became aware that applicant had approved material for publication that respondent considered was inappropriate and could potentially damage reputation of newspaper - When respondent looked at computer files she discovered variety of material that raised concern - Also became aware of what appeared to be unauthorised presence of applicant's partner on business premises, and inappropriate use of business computer to access pornographic websites - Authority concluded that some of applicant's behaviour was very questionable but not role of Authority to make value judgements as to how individuals conducted their personal lives - Respondent entitled to view actions of applicant as serious misconduct warranting dismissal - Dismissal justified - PENALTY - Respondent failed to provide written individual employment agreement but applicant did not seek penalty for this breach - Editor/Manager
Result Application dismissed ; Costs to lie where they fall
Statutes ERA s65;ERA s103A
Cases Cited Northern Distribution Union v BP Oil NZ Ltd [1992] 3 ERNZ 483;Chief Executive of the Ministry of Maori Development v Travers-Jones [2003] 1 ERNZ 174
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: aa 36_06.pdf [pdf 33 KB]