Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Christchurch
Reference No CA 217/10
Hearing date 23 Jul 2010
Determination date 30 November 2010
Member H Doyle
Representation J Duff ; M Deacon
Location Balclutha
Parties Labour Inspector (Duff) v Clutha Licensing Trust
Summary ARREARS OF WAGES AND HOLIDAY PAY – Applicant Labour Inspector sought unpaid wages and holiday pay for former employees of respondent – Respondent did not accept amounts calculated – Respondent claimed amounts overstated and did not take into account weeks when employees paid in excess of minimum wage – Respondent claimed bonus should have been taken into account – Respondent claimed should be deduction from wages for board or lodgings – Authority found salary paid on basis of 40 hour week at minimum wage but Ms Unahi (“U”) and Mr Webster (“W”) worked in excess of 50 hours as expressed as base hours required – Found paid hours also did not resemble hours worked by Mr and Mrs Chambers (“C”) – U and W claimed purchased groceries for own consumption – C claimed stock purchased for hotel separate to that purchased for flat – Respondent claimed employees entitled to meals whilst on duty – Found employees did not eat regularly at hotel – Found employees not provided with board – Found appropriate deduction made for lodgings – Found Labour Inspector not required to average weekly payments made over entire period of employment by taking into account weeks where more than minimum wage paid – Found bonus paid inclusive of holiday pay so should be deducted in calculating shortfall – Found reassessment required – Parties to make final calculations – Found holiday pay payable on amounts owing – Interest payable – PENALTY – Found genuine difference in method of calculation – No penalty awarded – Joint Hotel Managers
Result Application dismissed (penalty) ; Application granted (arrears of wages and holiday pay) ; Arrears of wages (quantum to be determined) ; Arrears of holiday pay (quantum to be determined) ; Costs reserved
Main Category Arrears
Statutes Holidays Act 2003;Minimum Wage Act 1983 s7
Cases Cited Idea Services Ltd v Dickson (2010) 9 NZELC 93,403;Sealord Group v NZ Fishing Guild [2005] ERNZ 535
Number of Pages 11
PDF File Link: ca 217_10.pdf [pdf 35 KB]