Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 41/09
Determination date 02 April 2009
Member D Asher
Representation C Bartlett (Applicant in person) ; B Scotland
Location Wellington
Parties Bartlett v Hawkes Bay District Health Board
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE – First issue, whether applicant barred from bringing claim by mediated settlement – Second issue, whether claim outside of 90 day limit – Applicant alleged bullying, harassment and unfair treatment - Mediated settlement concluded between parties as “full and final settlement of all matters” - Six months later, applicant filed Statement of Problem (“SOP”) alleging unfair treatment and breach of duty as grounds for constructive dismissal – SOP further alleged no genuine opportunity to comment before settlement therefore settlement not freely entered into – Authority found alleged grounds for constructive dismissal were matters in contemplation of parties at time of settlement therefore claim barred – Found no new matters emerged after settlement – Found evidence used in SOP supported same allegations made before settlement – Found no evidence of constructive dismissal - Found no evidence of procedural unfairness in mediation process – Applicant represented and finality of settlement made clear by mediator – Found applicant also outside 90 day limit – Found applicant did not breach confidentiality provision of settlement by seeking legal advice – Dismissal justified – Human Resource Administrator
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Raising PG
Statutes ERA s114(1);ERA s149;ERA s149(3);ERA s149(3)(b);ERA s159
Cases Cited Marlow v Yorkshire New Zealand Ltd [2000] 1 ERNZ 206
Number of Pages 8
PDF File Link: wa 41_09.pdf [pdf 36 KB]