Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 67/10
Hearing date 12 Dec 2009
Determination date 16 March 2010
Member P Montgomery
Representation S Case (Applicant in person) ; R Thompson
Location Christchurch
Parties Case v BJ Dakins & Company Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissal – Applicant claimed unjustifiably constructively dismissed – Respondent argued no dismissal and applicant resigned voluntarily before disciplinary investigation concluded – Respondent held disciplinary meeting – Allegations of misuse of paid time and breaches of employment agreement put to applicant – Applicant requested adjournment to allow applicant to prepare responses – Two days later, applicant tendered verbal resignation to respondent – Respondent accepted resignation – Personal grievance raised – Authority found by applicant’s own admission secured new employment with respondent’s competitor before resignation – Found applicant resigned voluntarily and new employment showed decision not hasty – Found no evidence applicant given option to either resign or be dismissed – Found probable applicant knew employment would be terminated if investigation resumed therefore resigned and found new employment – Found no dismissal – COSTS – Authority ordered applicant pay respondent $1,500 reasonable contribution to costs – Driver/Operator
Result Application dismissed ; Costs in favour of respondent ($1,500)
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103A
Cases Cited PBO Ltd (formerly Rush Security Ltd) v Da Cruz [2005] 1 ERNZ 808
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: ca 67_10.pdf [pdf 28 KB]