Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 120/09
Hearing date 27 May 2008 - 19 Aug 2009 (2 days)
Determination date 28 August 2009
Member D Asher
Representation A Millar ; P Drummond
Location Wellington
Parties Mawley v Jorgensen t/a Barista the Expresso Bar
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Identity of employer – Applicant claimed respondent applicant’s employer at all material times – Respondent argued company applicant’s employer – Argued respondent engaged with applicant as company’s agent – Respondent sole director and shareholder of company - Respondent advised applicant caf� owner and offered applicant chef position – Parties discussed employment terms – Applicant accepted position and subsequently signed written employment agreement (“EA”) – EA had “Barista the Espresso Bar” as party to EA – No discussion of correct identity of employer before employment commenced - Authority found respondent’s conduct showed respondent was applicant’s employer – Found respondent failed to address identity of employer issue and EA did not clarify issue – Found respondent did not discharge onus to prove was acting as company’s agent – Respondent correct employer – Chef
Result Question answered in favour of applicant ; Costs reserved
Main Category Practice & Procedure
Statutes ERA s65(1)(a)
Cases Cited Colosimo v Parker (2007) 8 NZELC 98,622;Mehta v Elliott (Labour Inspector) [2003] 1 ERNZ 451;Weston v Fraser unreported, Travis J, 4 Jul 2008, WC 15/08
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: wa 120_09.pdf [pdf 18 KB]