Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2011] NZERA Auckland 288
Hearing date 11 Apr 2011
Determination date 05 July 2011
Member V Campbell
Representation A-M McInally ; G Bingham
Location Auckland
Parties Lawlor v Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Summary UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE - Applicant claimed unjustifiably disadvantaged by respondent - Applicant attended meeting to discuss anger displayed towards another employee - Human Resources representative present at meeting - Applicant told private life being discussed by many at work - Applicant claimed became upset and cried - Applicant claimed made to serve customer - Applicant claimed after serving customer door locked - Applicant claimed amounted to unlawful imprisonment - Door unlocked by manager - Applicant left workplace and took two weeks sick leave - Applicant completed formal complaint form that invoked formal investigation process by respondent - General Manager of Human Resources gave applicant written apology - Authority found applicant required to attend meeting that had appearance of a formal disciplinary meeting without requisite preamble - Found locked door contributed to applicant's distress - Found applicant able to unlock door and leave at any point - Found applicant not required to serve customer - Found applicant's distress caused by gossip about private life rather than locked door - Found matter fully investigated after formal complaint - No disadvantage - Laundry Services
Result Application dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Cases Cited Mason v Health Waikato Ltd [1998] ERNZ 84;McCosh v National Bank of New Zealand Ltd unreported, Colgan J, 13 September 2004, AC 49/04;NZ Storeworkers etc IUOW v South Pacific Tyres (NZ) Ltd [1990] 3 NZILR 452;Bilkey v Imagepac Partners unreported, Colgan J, 7 October 2000, AC 65/02
Number of Pages 5
PDF File Link: 2011_NZERA_Auckland_288.pdf [pdf 18 KB]