Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 436/09
Hearing date 13 Oct 2009
Determination date 07 December 2009
Member L Robinson
Representation R Reed ; M Robins
Location Auckland
Parties Zhuang v First Mobile New Zealand Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Redundancy – Respondent advised applicant overpaid commission and would deduct overpayment from salary – Applicant sought legal advice and parties agreed would not pursue overpaid commission – Applicant advised about restructuring – Applicant claimed singled out because paid higher salary than other sales representatives – Applicant attended meetings to discuss proposed restructure and position made redundant – Applicant offered alternative positions but did not pursue those options – Authority found no entitlement to commission and paid in error – Found arrangement between parties constituted accord and satisfaction in respect of commission – Found previous roster provided more cover than required to efficiently staff store – Found restructure was business decision made genuinely and not for ulterior purposes – Found applicant provided with all relevant information – Found applicant fully consulted about proposed restructure – Found respondent acted in good faith in carrying out decision to make applicant’s position redundant – Dismissal justified – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by lack of support because of commission issue – Complaints about business cards and mobile phone rejected – Found applicant failed to raise personal grievance with respondent – Found respondent addressed issue complained about by applicant in restructuring – No unjustified disadvantage – Sales consultant
Result Applications dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s4;ERA s103A
Cases Cited GN Hale & Son Ltd v Wellington Caretakers IUOW [1991] 1 NZLR 151
Number of Pages 12
PDF File Link: aa 436_09.pdf [pdf 40 KB]