Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 57/08
Hearing date 27 Nov 2007 - 28 Nov 2007 (2 days)
Determination date 06 May 2008
Member P Montgomery
Representation A Klinkert ; P McBride
Location Dunedin
Parties Homan v Dunedin Fire District a Division of the New Zealand Fire Service
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE - UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Misconduct - Applicant charged with male assaults female after visiting bar while away on employment-related course (subsequently pled guilty) - Suspended pending Court appearance - Applicant agreed to suspension - Not an unjustified action - Dismissed following respondent’s investigation into incident - Applicant submitted had not breached standards of conduct - Position partly based on fact incident happened away from work, and subsequent steps taken to address problems - Dismissal not based solely on issue of bringing Fire Service into disrepute but took into account loss of trust and confidence - Particularly high standard of personal integrity demanded of members of Fire Service - Applicant had also breached undertaking given to respondent after charged with theft after a drinking session at time being considered as recruit - Dismissal justified - Firefighter
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes Crimes Act 1961 s194(b);ERA s103A
Cases Cited Smith v Christchurch Press Company Ltd [2000] 1 ERNZ 624
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: ca 57_08.pdf [pdf 44 KB]