Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 125/06
Hearing date 2 Jun 2006
Determination date 17 August 2006
Member H Doyle
Representation A Shaw ; K Spackman
Location Christchurch
Parties Eade v Chief Executive in Respect of the Department of Corrections (CPS)
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Altercation with offender – Offender abused applicant and threw stones at him – Applicant punched offender in head – Alleged self defence – Applicant on special leave then suspended and given written warning – Whether decision unfair given that investigation report writer found applicant acted in self defence – No disadvantage in relation to special leave – Suspension justified – Not disadvantaged by length of suspension – Authority did not consider that investigation process in entirety was too long in all circumstances – Investigation necessary and fair – Area manager found punch was not proportionate or reasonable response – Fair and reasonable employer would conclude in circumstances of case that incident with offender need not have progressed to stage it did – Punch not appropriate or reasonable response – Decision to issue written warning not unjustifiable on basis that applicant disparately treated – No personal grievance - Length of service 4ï¾½ years - Probation officer
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Statutes Crimes Act 1961 s48;ERA Second Schedule cl10(1)
Cases Cited Alliance Freezing Co (Southland) Ltd v New Zealand Engineering Workers Union [1990] 1 NZLR 533; (1989) ERNZ Sel Cas 575 (CA)
Number of Pages 11
PDF File Link: ca 125_06.pdf [pdf 54 KB]