Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 121/10
Hearing date 8 Sep 2009 - 9 Sep 2009 (2 days)
Determination date 15 March 2010
Member J Crichton
Representation L Inglis (Applicant in person) ; H Kynaston
Location Auckland
Parties Inglis v Vice-Chancellor of Massey University
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissal – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant alleged bullied by Associate Professor while employed by respondent – Applicant alleged investigation conducted as consequence of bullying unsatisfactory – Applicant resigned and took short term fellowship overseas – Associate Professor denied bullying applicant and attributed complaints to attempts to manage applicant’s poor teaching performance – Meeting held to discuss bullying allegation – Meeting taped and provided to Associate Professor – Applicant disputed agreeing to transcript of meeting being provided to Associate Professor – Applicant complained to Privacy Commissioner about breach of privacy – Respondent claimed applicant agreed to meeting being taped – Respondent unable to reach finding applicant bullied – Applicant subsequently resigned – Applicant alleged Associate Professor made prank phone calls late at night – Associate Professor found out about phone calls and offered protection to applicant – Applicant alleged respondent preferred views of students over applicant’s responses – Respondent claimed applicant failed to take responsibility for shortcomings – Authority preferred respondent’s evidence – Performance management fell to Associate Professor – Applicant claimed feared for safety and subject to tirade of anger – Associate Professor denied claims – Found no evidence to suggest Associate Professor behaved inappropriately – Found Associate Professor had professional obligation to try to manage performance deficits of applicant – Found outcome of investigation fair given lack of evidence of applicant – No bullying – No constructive dismissal – Senior lecturer
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
Number of Pages 14
PDF File Link: aa 121_10.pdf [pdf 57 KB]