Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 162/08
Hearing date 26 Feb 2008
Determination date 01 May 2008
Member R A Monaghan
Representation L Pattullo ; T Skinner
Location Auckland
Parties Holt v Zealandia Marine Group Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Poor performance - Short term employment - Applicant advised of office administrator vacancy at respondent - Specifics of role not finalised - Both parties failed to realise applicant lacked required computer skills until she began work - Employment ended within a week after parties met to discuss performance - Respondent submitted employment ended by agreement, but applicant considered herself dismissed - No meeting of the minds - Respondent’s behaviour closed the door on possibility of embarking on performance management programme - Dismissal unjustified - Remedies - Contributory conduct - Applicant to take some responsibility for misappreciation of position, but although over optimistic, did not misrepresent her position - Authority accepted applicant not suitable for position and employment unlikely to have continued - PENALTY - Applicant sought penalty for respondent’s failure to provide job description with employment agreement - However, no provision for penalty for breach of section 65 Employment Relations Act 2000 - Office administrator
Result Application granted (dismissal) ; Reimbursement of lost wages (1 month less wages received) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($4,000) ; Application dismissed (penalty) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s64(2);ERA s64(3);ERA s65(2)(ii);ERA s133
Cases Cited Wellington etc Clerical etc IUOW v Greenwich (1983) ERNZ Sel Cas 95; [1983] ACJ 965
Number of Pages 11
PDF File Link: aa 162_08.pdf [pdf 37 KB]