Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2011] NZERA Auckland 177
Hearing date 21 Apr 2011
Determination date 02 May 2011
Member A Dumbleton
Representation K Khan (in person) ; C Blake, S van der Wel
Location Auckland
Parties Khan v Oracle New Zealand Ltd
Summary INJUNCTION – Interim Reinstatement – Applicant sought interim reinstatement following dismissal for redundancy – Authority found reinstatement no longer primary remedy – Found now reinstatement provided if practicable and reasonable – Found changes not retrospective but addressed to present – Applicant informed position disestablished with immediate effect – Applicant claimed redundancy not genuine – Applicant claimed victimised and retaliated against by colleagues – Applicant claimed redundancy used as way to get rid of applicant – Respondent claimed applicant’s position disestablished following major downturn in needs from clients and lack of work requiring applicant’s expertise and experience – Found only weakly arguable case applicant’s dismissal for redundancy not genuine – Found evidence indicated respondent’s decision to dismiss made with reference to position of employment applicant held and not with reference to applicant personally as individual – Found aspects of timing of consultation raised procedural questions with dismissal – Found procedural defects in genuine redundancy probably not sufficient to lead Authority to order reinstatement where dismissal unjustified – Found only weakly arguable case applicant would be reinstated if established dismissal unjustified – Found balance of convenience favoured not ordering interim reinstatement – Found reimbursement of lost wages and compensation would provide adequate remedies to applicant – Found overall justice favoured declining application for interim reinstatement – Found untested evidence indicated genuine redundancy – Found possible procedural defects with implementing redundancy – Found applicant made strong attacks against colleagues’ character and professional integrity – Found accusations indicated strong lack of trust and confidence – Application for interim reinstatement declined – Principal Consultant
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Injunction
Statutes ERA s101(c);ERA s125;ERA s125(2);ERA s127
Cases Cited Cliff v Air New Zealand Ltd unreported, Colgan J, 25 Feb 2005, AC 6A/05;GN Hale & Sons Ltd v Wellington etc Caretakers etc IUOW [1990] 2 NZLR 1079;Lamb v Burnside Dairy Farms Ltd [2011] NZERA Christchurch 53
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: 2011_NZERA_Auckland_177.pdf [pdf 44 KB]