Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 113/09
Hearing date 3 Apr 2009
Determination date 07 April 2009
Member R Arthur
Representation B Turner, V Turner ; A Lornie (in person)
Location Tauranga
Parties Clinical Horizons Ltd t/a the Dentists v Lornie
Summary RECOVERY OF MONIES – Applicant sought recovery of overpaid wages – Applicant identified substantial overpayment of annual leave after respondent ceased employment – Parties entered into mediated settlement which provided parties to abide by opinion of Labour Inspector as resolution of all issues – Labour Inspector concluded overpayment of $4,304 and parties agreed respondent would promptly pay sum owed – Respondent repaid $490 during five month period in part-payments varying in size – Respondent claimed no assets and no financial ability to pay outstanding sum in full therefore remainder should be repaid in instalments – Authority found repayment in instalments unjust because applicant remained “involuntary lender” to respondent – Found respondent had not explored all avenues available to repay debt in full – Found interest of 3.19 percent on $4,308 for period of 204 days appropriate – Applicant operated with interest-bearing overdraft which would have been reduced if sum repaid - Found further interest of 5.19 percent on outstanding sum for period of 42 days appropriate – PENALTY – Applicant sought penalty for breach of mediated settlement – Respondent claimed no breach because settlement did not set timing of repayment – Authority found settlement did not provide how and when payment was due and therefore no breach – Penalty declined – Payroll Administrator/Accountant
Result Application granted (Recovery of monies) ; Application dismissed (Penalty); Interest (3.19%)($4,304.76 for 204 days ) (5.19%)($3,894.76 for 42 days) ; Disbursements in favour of applicant ($70)(Filing fee)
Main Category Recovery of Monies
Statutes ERA s149;ERA cl14, sch2
Number of Pages 4
PDF File Link: aa 113_09.pdf [pdf 19 KB]