Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 163/07
Hearing date 8 Mar 2007
Determination date 30 May 2007
Member M Urlich
Representation G French (in person) ; N Lucie-Smith
Location Auckland
Parties French v The Chief of Defence Force
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant alleged unjustifiably disadvantaged by manner respondent handled complaint about his behaviour – Preliminary enquiries occurred before applicant advised of complaint or formal complaint lodged – Enquiries reasonable, although conclusions could have been put more delicately to applicant - Applicant resigned for reasons unrelated to complaint – Complainant advised, given resignation, would not proceed with complaint and manager communicated this to applicant – However, complainant later changed mind and lodged complaint - Formal investigation begun – Applicant claimed retraction and reinstitution of complaint enhanced anxiety and concerned about investigation process - No evidence manager received advice complaint withdrawn in anything but good faith and passed information to applicant in same spirit - No evidence actions unjustified - No grounds for unjustified action arose from colleague's involvement in complaint process - Nothing respondent could do about timeliness of written complaint - Investigation concluded after employment relationship ended - Criticised behaviour of both complainant and applicant – Applicant's employment not disadvantaged as employment did not exist at time of alleged disadvantage relating to findings of investigation - No unjustified disadvantage - HR adviser
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes Defence Force Order 4;ERA s103;ERA s103(1)(b);ERA s103A
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: aa 163_07.pdf [pdf 47 KB]