Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 141/06
Hearing date 12 Jul 2006
Determination date 18 September 2006
Member P Cheyne
Representation P Brown ; M Guest
Location Christchurch
Parties Davis v Harbour Inn Fisheries Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Whether dismissed or resigned - Applicant claimed dismissed for alleged theft of stock - Dispute over exchange that led to termination - Best evidence of what occurred was statement given to police soon after - Applicant dismissed - Fair and reasonable employer would have given applicant better opportunity to explain or mitigate - Director suspected applicant of taking fish for sometime - Suspicion never raised with applicant - Director had organised for representative to be present when applicant dismissed - Director and partners made up mind about applicant's culpability before exchange that led to termination - Dismissal unjustified - Remedies - Authority accepted fish missing - In circumstances only applicant could be responsible - Contributory conduct 100 percent - Length of service one year two months - Fish filleter
Result Application granted ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Food Processing etc IUOW v Unilever New Zealand Ltd [1990] 1 NZILR 35;Wellington, Taranaki and Marlborough Clerical Etc IUOW v Greenwich (t/a Greenwich and Associates Employment Agency and Complete Fitness Centre) [1983] ACJ 965 ; NZ
Number of Pages 4
PDF File Link: ca 141_06.pdf [pdf 25 KB]