Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 226/09
Hearing date 20 Apr 2009
Determination date 08 July 2009
Member D King
Representation M McFadden ; G Bennett
Location Auckland
Parties Wong v Baycorp (NZ) Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Redundancy – Applicant successfully applied for new position following respondents merger – Respondent advised staff of proposed new structure – Applicant one of 8 current team leaders asked to reapply for 6 team leader positions in new structure – Two unsuccessful applicants to be offered alternative lower position or redundancy – Applicant argued job descriptions for 6 positions did not match duties to be carried out – Applicant looked at information provided and applied for position he suspected was same as existing position – Applicant claimed should have gone through reapplication process – Respondent told applicant unsuccessful in positions applied for – Authority found applicant’s existing position same as applied position in new structure – Found applicant’s position not redundant – Found applicant did not have to reapply for position – Dismissal unjustified – Remedies – No contributory conduct – Authority found applicant not entitled to reimbursement of lost wages as redundancy compensation exceeded loss – Found little evidence of humiliation and distress – Found $3000 compensation appropriate – Team leader
Result Application granted ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($3,000) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Cases Cited Money v Westpac Banking Corporation [2003] 2 ERNZ 122
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: aa 226_09.pdf [pdf 27 KB]