Restrictions Includes non-publication order
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 350/09
Hearing date 25 Aug 2009 - 17 Sep 2009 (3 days)
Determination date 05 October 2009
Member A Dumbleton
Representation M O'Brien ; B Edwards
Location Auckland
Parties Peleti v KME Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Misconduct – Applicant claimed dismissal unjustified and in breach of employment agreement – Applicant gave courier different name and address from those of intended recipient – Documents important and highly sensitive to intended client recipient – Respondent reproached by client for mishandling delivery – Authority found applicant gave untrue account of courier instructions – Applicant invited to disciplinary meeting – Following disciplinary meeting, respondents met with applicant’s representative to discuss applicant’s continued employment – Applicant did not attend as was on annual leave – Applicant dismissed – Applicant argued dismissal unfair as respondent failed to convey reasons for dismissal to applicant and failed to invite applicant to subsequent meeting – Minutes of subsequent meeting referred to another meeting to be held – Respondent failed to hold meeting because had engaged with applicant’s representative – Found respondent reasonably concluded applicant’s performance amounted to misconduct – Found respondent had reasonable grounds to believe reputation of firm put at risk by applicant’s conduct – Decision to dismiss based on dishonesty – Respondent alleged applicant dishonest about courier instructions to various people and had brought respondent into disrepute – Found applicant not given full opportunity to explain conduct – Found second meeting would not affect decision – Found respondent substantially observed rules of procedural fairness – Dismissal justified – Non-publication order – Receptionist/office assistant
Result Application dismissed ; Orders made ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s4(1A);ERA s103A;ERA s124;ERA Second Schedule cl10
Cases Cited Chief Executive of Unitec v Henderson unreported, Colgan CJ, 19 March 2007, AC 12/07
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: aa 350_09.pdf [pdf 31 KB]