Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 80/10
Hearing date 17 Feb 2010
Determination date 18 February 2010
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation D Collins ; no appearance
Location Auckland
Parties Williams v Banksia Holdings Ltd
Summary BREACH OF CONTRACT - UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL - No appearance for respondent - Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed and owed pay in lieu of notice - Applicant claimed respondent’s director (“H”) shouted at him and was intimidating - Applicant gave H letter stating if behaviour did not cease applicant “might have to take legal action” - Next day applicant dismissed - Applicant refused to leave premises until given “severance pay” and letter confirming dismissal - H called Police who removed applicant from premises - Meeting held where agreed applicant would return to work as head chef conditional on increase in hourly rate - When hourly rate not increased applicant and H had argument and applicant dismissed again - Applicant refused to leave premises until paid entitlements - Applicant again removed from premise by Police - Applicant received final pay but not pay in lieu of notice - Found based on applicant’s evidence dismissal unjustified - Remedies - Found applicant entitled to pay in lieu of notice - Applicant found part time work and received unemployment benefit - Applicant entitled to reimbursement of lost wages - Authority did not accept being removed from premises by Police went to issue of humiliation - Found was applicant’s choice to remain on premises after being asked to leave - Found given brevity of employment and applicant confirmed employment after returning after first dismissal pay in lieu of notice and reimbursement of lost wages adequately compensated applicant - No award of compensation - Chef
Result Application granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($2,160) ; Pay in lieu of notice ($2,160) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: aa 80_10.pdf [pdf 21 KB]