Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 11/01
Determination date 20 April 2001
Member P Cheyne
Representation EJ Tait ; AC Shaw
Location Christchurch
Parties Hamilton v Frontline Finance Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - Whether genuine redundancy - Sale and purchase of part of business - Operational employees, including applicant, required to continue employment - Offer of transfer - Assured security of continued employment - Decision made to dismiss applicant - Dismissed during telephone conversation - Dismissal then explained in meeting - No consultation - Similar position subsequently advertised - Misleading actions predated confirmation and completion of sale and purchase agreement - Employee entitled to rely on impression given by new employer's representative - Failure to deal with applicant in good faith - Inadequate assessment of skills and consideration of redeployment - Dismissal unjustified - Penalty sought but inappropriate - Significant emotional effect caused by dismissal - Remedies limited because redundancy inevitable - Business banking manager
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages (2 weeks) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($15,000) ; Costs reserved
Statutes ERA s4;ERA s4(1);ERA s4(2)(d);ERA s4(4)(d);ERA s4(4)(e);ERA s128(2);ERA s218(3);ERA s133(1)(a)
Cases Cited Baguley v Coutts Cars Ltd [2000] 2 ERNZ 409;Rongotai College Board of Trustees v Castle [1998] 2 ERNZ 430
Number of Pages 5
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