Special Interest Cases

VLN brought an employment status and employment standards claim arising from work performed at properties associated with Kim Dotcom and Elizabeth Dotcom. With Mr Dotcom facing possible extradition, VLN sought urgent removal of the entire proceeding from the Employment Relations Authority to the Employment Court before any Authority investigation. The ERA accepted that the possible departure of Mr Dotcom, the unresolved employment status issues, and the potential minimum employment standards claims created sufficient urgency and public interest. The whole matter was removed to the Employment Court. The Authority also made an interim non-publication order protecting VLN's identity.

Cardinal Logistics Limited dismissed the Applicant after he refused a drug and alcohol test, but the ERA found Cardinal did not establish genuine and reasonable grounds for requiring that test. Cardinal let him keep driving for about two hours after the alleged safety complaint, failed to verify the allegation, and the dismissal and suspension were found unjustified.

After a s 149 mediated settlement, the employer was required to pay $3,000 compensation to the employee, pay $3,500+GST to the employee's representative on invoice, and provide a certificate of service. The employer deliberately withheld compliance after hearing allegations the employee...

Preliminary determination. The estate of a deceased employee sought to bring a personal grievance (including constructive dismissal) against a New Zealand company after he died at work in Melbourne. The Authority held the NZ employment had ended before the move to Australia, a separate...