Stuff had genuine commercial reasons to restructure, but it failed to properly establish that Andrew McFarlane's existing role was surplus before making him compete for a substantially similar role. The ERA found the dismissal unjustified, criticised the contestable selection and redeployment process, and awarded $25,000 compensation plus $30,840.98 gross lost remuneration and holiday pay.
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Results for 90 day trial
Brandt Tractor removed sales manager Nicholas Pilcher from the workplace on 'special leave', took his phone and laptop and then dismissed him five days later over four bullying and harassment complaints. He was not given the underlying complaints, even in redacted form, or a genuine chance to answer them.
Four workers at Miaodi's Laundromat alleged their employment was ended without a fair process and that significant wage and holiday entitlements had not been paid. The proceeding also involved personal liability and penalties for minimum employment-standard breaches.
Four Krazy Price Mart employees said they routinely worked about 60 hours over six days while being paid for substantially fewer hours and were later dismissed when the business was sold without adequate consultation. The case combined personal grievances with extensive minimum-entitlement claims.
Hailee-Anne Hirst said a bakery effectively dismissed her after calling her in on a day off and confronting her about allegedly missing market takings. The employer denied dismissing her but did not participate in the investigation meeting.
Open Country Dairy summarily dismissed Mr Stewart on the final day covered by his medical certificate after a disciplinary process. The ERA considered both the employer's process and Mr Stewart's own conduct when assessing justification and remedies.
Community Connectors Daynah Olliver and Sheena Taylor were employed on fixed-term agreements that did not properly record the statutory reasons for the fixed terms. Te Araroa then tried to end both employments early without a fair process.
Modern Auto Repair said Mr Nair resigned after a heated argument; Nair alleged he was dismissed and also pursued wage and holiday-pay issues. The ERA had to resolve conflicting evidence about how the employment ended and what money remained owing.
