Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 46/06
Hearing date 9 Feb 2006
Determination date 30 March 2006
Member J Crichton
Representation S Templeton ; R Davidson
Location Christchurch
Parties Bootsma v South Island Gourmet (2000) Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissal – Applicant resigned after three separate alleged breaches of duty by respondent – Director of respondent enraged and abusive during discussion about losing certain account – Made vulgar observations about applicant and wife to applicant’s work colleagues - Performance issues inappropriately raised at meetings convened to address other matters – Angry discussion occurred four months before any talk of employment relationship ending - Applicant’s only concern at time was for emotional stability of director – Incident not enough to ground constructive dismissal – Likely that director made inappropriate observations about applicant and wife – Nature and extent of observations not breach of duty to extent necessary to found constructive dismissal – Director’s offer of apology not action of employer cavalier about continuation of employment relationship – Meetings not taken over for disciplinary purposes – Director entitled to try and establish applicant’s intentions regarding return to work after period of unplanned leave - No constructive dismissal – Length of service 12 years – Branch manager
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Wellington etc Clerical IUW v Greenwich [1983] ACJ 965;Woods v WM Car Services (Peterborough) Ltd [1982] 1 CR 693
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: ca 46_06.pdf [pdf 53 KB]