Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 363/08
Hearing date 25 Sep 2008
Determination date 22 October 2008
Member J Scott
Representation S Caswell ; B Davis
Location Rotorua
Parties Bogun v Davis t/a Outdoor Sportsworld
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed by respondent’s owner (“D”) – Respondent argued applicant abandoned employment – Authority found applicant preferred not to work weekends but entered into verbal employment agreement (“EA”) with D that would work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and one Saturday every three weeks – Found, subsequently applicant entered verbal agreement with co-worker (“O”) that O would work weekends for applicant – Authority found likely applicant misunderstood agreement only for two months until O left employment – At meeting with D applicant stated no longer worked weekends – D told applicant required to work weekends – Applicant claimed O yelling and screaming – Authority found on evidence D’s manner assertive and on the point – Found D was not angry towards applicant – Found applicant one who became loud and angry – Authority concluded no conduct by D that was repudiatory of EA with applicant – Found EA included provision applicant would work one Saturday in three – Found applicant took exception to provision pointed out by D and left respondent – Found no dismissal – PENALTY – Applicant sought penalty against respondent for failure to provide written EA – Authority found existence of written EA would have avoided applicant’s confusion – Penalty payable to crown appropriate – Retail assistant
Result Application dismissed ; Penalty ($500)(Payable to crown) ; No order for costs
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s65;ERA s103(1)(a);ERA s103(1)(b);ERA s63A
Cases Cited Air New Zealand Ltd v Hudson [2006] ERNZ 415
Number of Pages 12
PDF File Link: aa 363_08.pdf [pdf 38 KB]