Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 144/10
Hearing date 1 Dec 2009
Determination date 26 March 2010
Member V Campbell
Representation A Heinrich ; M Arneson
Location Hamilton
Parties Zhao v Health and Body Clinic Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed unilateral reduction of work hours and breach of employment agreement (“EA”) caused disadvantage – EA provided applicant provided with ongoing training – Applicant claimed no training provided for colonic hydrotherapy – Respondent argued applicant given training – Authority found applicant admitted not raising matter with respondent – Found applicant did not undertake colonic irrigation or hydrotherapy – No disadvantage – Applicant claimed unilateral reduction of work hours – Found hours unilaterally reduced causing disadvantage – Disadvantage unjustified - UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Applicant claimed unjustified summary dismissal – Respondent argued applicant abandoned employment – Altercation occurred between parties – Respondent typed dismissal letter but not given to applicant – Dismissal letter face down on applicant’s desk - Applicant left workplace and did not return – Applicant took dismissal letter – Authority found probable applicant dismissed – Found final pay paid in accordance with terms of dismissal letter – Found respondent did not contact applicant when applicant did not return – Dismissal unjustified – REMEDIES – No contributory conduct – Reimbursement of three months lost wages – Reimbursement for monies lost due to unilateral reduction in hours – Found $4,000 global compensation appropriate
Result Applications granted ; Reimbursement of lost wages ($6,654.92)(3 months) ($143.00)(Unilateral reduction of hours) ; Compensation for humiliation etc ($4,000)
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s103A
Cases Cited Air New Zealand Limited v Hudson [2006] 1 ERNZ 415;Bilkey v Imagepac Partners, unreported, Colgan J, 7 Oct 2000, AC 65/02;Mason v Health Waikato Ltd [1998] 1 ERNZ 84;McCosh v National Bank, unreported, Colgan J, 13 Sep 2004, AC 49/04;NZ Storeworkers etc IUOW v South Pacific Tyres (NZ) Ltd [1990] 3 NZILR 452;Toll New Zealand Consolidated Ltd v Rowe, unreported, Shaw J, 19 Dec 2007, AC 39A/07;X v Auckland District Health Board [2007] 1 ERNZ 66
Number of Pages 7
PDF File Link: aa 144_10.pdf [pdf 28 KB]