Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 104/10
Hearing date 12 Feb 2010
Determination date 30 April 2010
Member J Crichton
Representation A Sharma ; G Malone
Location Nelson
Parties Harris v Talley's Group Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Incapacity – Applicant hospitalised following event of atrial fibrillation while working – Applicant received medical advice unable to return to work on fishing vessel – Applicant failed to provide respondent medical clearance from approved medical practitioner – Respondent argued failure to provide medical clearance frustrated employment agreement and led to termination of employment – Respondent claimed applicant declined offer of land-based position – Authority found respondent unable to continue employment in seafaring capacity because no medical clearance – Found respondent acted as fair and reasonable employer in offering applicant land-based duties – Found employment agreement frustrated – Dismissal justified – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed bullied and intimidated by cook and had difficulties because cook would not facilitate ability to perform shipboard duties as medic – Applicant claimed worked additional hours and under additional stress as result – Applicant argued complained to skipper but told to put up with situation – Respondent denied bullying allegations raised with land-based management during employment – Human Resources Manager claimed applicant denied bullying allegations when pressed but asked skipper anyway who denied seeing any evidence of bullying – Found applicant failed to raise bullying allegations with respondent – No disadvantage
Result Applications dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Cases Cited A Farmer v A Worker [2009] ERNZ 7
Number of Pages 8
PDF File Link: ca 104_10.pdf [pdf 31 KB]