Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Wellington
Reference No WA 20/10
Hearing date 19 Jan 2010
Determination date 08 February 2010
Member P R Stapp
Representation H Hamilton ; M & S Levett
Location Napier
Parties Richardson v Sherenden Station Ltd
Summary ARREARS OF WAGES AND HOLIDAY PAY – Applicant claimed owed unpaid wages and holiday pay – Respondent acknowledged holiday pay owing but wished to off set amount against sums owed by applicant – Respondent disputed unpaid wages and claimed applicant would have received time in lieu if had remained in employment during low time of dairy season according to employment agreement – Authority found holiday pay due and owing despite deductions authority in employment agreement – Found unpaid wages not owing in reliance on employment agreement for time in lieu during low season – COUNTERCLAIMS – BREACH OF CONTRACT – Respondent argued applicant breached employment agreement for non-performance of duties – Respondent argued applicant failed to undertake work involving artificial insemination – Found no provision in employment agreement or job description to undertake task – Respondent argued applicant failed to account for missing and dead stock – Found no basis for claim – RECOVERY OF MONIES – Respondent sought compensation against applicant for failing to work out notice and refund for overpayment of salary – Applicant acknowledged overpayment in salary but argued should not have to pay it back – Authority reserved decision as to overpayment – Found applicant failed to work out notice – Found applicant sick during notice period – Found respondent accepted applicant’s resignation without any arrangement to pay out notice period – Found no basis for claim for cost in time for broken milk pump – Dairy farm manager
Result Application granted (arrears of holiday pay) ($2,170.34) ; Recovery of wages (reserved) ; Application dismissed (arrears of wages)(breach of contract)(recovery of monies) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Arrears
Statutes Holidays Act 2003 s6;Holidays Act 2003 s27;Wages Protection Act
Cases Cited New Zealand Fire Service Commission v Warner and Ors unreported, P R Stapp, 4 Nov 2009, WA 171/09
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: wa 20_10.pdf [pdf 25 KB]