Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 128/06
Hearing date 24 Jan 2006
Determination date 13 April 2006
Member K J Anderson
Representation B Nabney ; M Sharp
Location Auckland
Parties Derecourt v Owens Cargo Company Ltd
Summary DISPUTE – Interpretation and application of individual employment agreement - Whether redundancy compensation correctly calculated – Applicant re-employed by respondent after 15 month break – Employment agreement included previous 10 years employment with respondent as “accrued service” for purpose of leave and other entitlements – Subsequent agreement contained no length of service clause – Applicant took voluntary redundancy – Employment agreement required redundancy compensation to be paid in accordance with company policy – Compensation calculated based on post-break service only – Applicant disputed calculation but received payment as calculated by respondent – Having recognised previous employment as accrued service in initial contract, company bound to continue to do so in absence of agreement to contrary – Applicant clearly communicated non-acceptance of respondent’s calculations before and after termination of employment – Receipt of payment did not waive applicant’s rights to dispute respondent’s interpretation – Applicant entitled to have total accrued service including pre-break employment taken into account for calculation of redundancy compensation
Result Dispute determined in favour of applicant ; Redundancy compensation ($9,711.50 gross) ; Interest (7%) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ECA s19
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: aa 128_06.pdf [pdf 27 KB]