Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No [2011] NZERA Auckland 418
Hearing date 3 May 2011
Determination date 23 September 2011
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation D Hallie (in person) ; P Shaw
Location Auckland
Parties Hallie v Richmond New Zealand Inc
Summary RAISING PERSONAL GRIEVANCE – Respondent claimed unjustified dismissal grievance not raised within 90 days – Authority found applicant raised unjustified disadvantage grievance within 90 days and applicant relied on same evidence for both grievances – Found appropriate to proceed with substantive investigation and reserve question of whether unjustified dismissal grievance could be considered – UNJUSTIFIED DISMISSAL – Constructive dismissal – UNJUSTIFIED DISADVANTAGE – Applicant claimed unjustifiably dismissed and disadvantaged by respondent – Respondent implemented new roster – Respondent human resources advisor (“T”) told applicant that could only choose one position in redeployment process – T confirmed with applicant that if redeployed to mobile job all terms and conditions would remain the same and service would be continuous – Applicant claimed respondent mobile service manager (“D”) said applicant would be able to pick up vehicle – D denied giving any guarantee about vehicle pick up – Applicant did not raise issue of vehicle pick up with T – Applicant told unable to pick up vehicle – Applicant declined to take up new position – T offered applicant several other redeployment options – Applicant claimed left with no choice but to resign due to change to terms and conditions of new position – Found reasonable for respondent to tell staff that could only make one choice in redeployment process – Found D did not give applicant guarantee about vehicle pick up – Found vehicle pick up did not form part of terms and conditions of employment offered to applicant – Found applicant had to bear some responsibility for situation – Found respondent did everything possible to accommodate applicant’s wishes – No disadvantage – Dismissal justified – Community Service Worker
Result Applications dismissed ; Costs reserved
Main Category Personal Grievance
Cases Cited National Union of Public Employees Inc v Richmond Fellowship New Zealand Ltd unreported, H Doyle, 9 April 2010, CA87/10
Number of Pages 9
PDF File Link: 2011_NZERA_Auckland_418.pdf [pdf 28 KB]