Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 246/10
Hearing date 19 Apr 2010
Determination date 24 May 2010
Member R A Monaghan
Representation M Rollo ; C Bradley
Location Tauranga
Parties Gardner v Radioworks Ltd
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Redundancy – Applicant claimed dismissal substantively and procedurally unjustified – Respondent argued redundancy for genuine business reasons and applicant advised of redundancy process – Respondent restructured business and proposed to merge applicant’s client list with another employee’s list disestablishing one position – Applicant and other employees received restructuring proposal – Respondent advised applicants for new positions would be sought internally and externally – Advised affected employees not appointed to new position would be made redundant – Advised new positions of higher responsibility and autonomy than existing positions - Applicant affected employee and applied for new positions – Applicant interviewed for position and questions directed towards applicant’s ability to handle new position – Applicant ultimately unsuccessful as respondent concluded another candidate more suitable – Applicant terminated for redundancy – Authority found merged list and restructure justified for genuine business reasons – Found new positions more senior than applicant’s previous position – Found respondent fairly chose another candidate as more suitable – Found redundancy procedurally justified as applicant notified position more senior and process that would follow if not appointed to new position – Found applicant did not enquire about new positions during consultation process – Dismissal justified – Sales Consultant
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Statutes ERA s4
Cases Cited Simpsons Farms Ltd v Aberhart [2006] ERNZ 825
Number of Pages 6
PDF File Link: aa 246_10.pdf [pdf 24 KB]