Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 316/07
Hearing date 27 Jul 2007
Determination date 11 October 2007
Member R A Monaghan
Representation J Bale ; M Reid
Location Auckland
Parties Feo & Ors v Technology Ucan Trust Ltd
Other Parties Barlow, Wybro, Botka, Young
Summary JURISIDICITON – Whether employees or independent contractors – Respondent disputed status of second, third, fourth and fifth applicants - Applicants responded to broadly-worded advertisements offering opportunity to earn specified sum of money per week, with no experience necessary – Signed standard ‘independent agent agreement’ indicative of contracting relationship – Written agreement more than an attempt to label arrangement and given weight as genuine reflection of parties’ intentions - Respondent exercised relatively high degree of control but this appeared to flow from applicants’ lack of experience and did not outweigh freedoms that were also conferred – Integration test not helpful – Most applicants did not appear to approach work as if in business on own account, however not because of limits in agreements – No employment relationship – Respondent directed to mediation in respect of grievance raised by first applicant - Sales
Result Application dismissed ; Orders accordingly ; Costs reserved
Main Category Jurisdiction
Statutes ERA s6;ERA s6(3)(a)
Cases Cited Bryson v Three Foot Six Limited [2003] 1 ERNZ 581;Bryson v Three Foot Six Limited [2005] SC 34;Cunningham v TNT Express Worldwide Limited [1993] 1 ERNZ 695 (CA)
Number of Pages 11
PDF File Link: aa 316_07.pdf [pdf 38 KB]