Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 19/02
Determination date 04 February 2002
Member WRC Gardiner
Representation K Wilson ; D Robb & W Harvey
Location Auckland
Parties Robinson v Heinz-Wattie Australasia Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Redundancy - Sale and purchase of business - Advised of prospective sale - Notified when sale finalised - Meeting with representatives of new company before sale finalised - Not notified that purpose of meeting was job interview - Not disadvantaged by lack of notice - Offer of employment by new company - Accompanying letter from respondent stated that applicant to be made redundant if offer rejected - Entitled to consultation as to alternative options of employment with respondent - Mass redundancies - Applicant part of distinct management structure - Consultation entirely practical - Breach of contractual obligation to consult - Opportunity provided for consultation after personal grievance raised - Trust and confidence already destroyed - No false assurances of employment - Redundancy substantively justified but procedurally unfair - Sales representative
Result Application granted ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($7,500) ; Costs reserved
Cases Cited Aoraki Corporation Ltd v McGavin [1998] 1 ERNZ 601 ; [1998] 3 NZLR 276;Coutts Cars Ltd v Baguley [2001] ERNZ 660
Number of Pages 15
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