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Results for serious misconduct

Showing 17-24 of 75 results
BLIGNAUT v WASTE MANAGEMENT NZ LIMITED [2025] NZERA 560 - The personal grievance for unjustified disadvantage was upheld.

Mr Blignaut challenged Waste Management's treatment of him during a workplace conflict, including alleged bullying, suspension and pressure to resign, before he was ultimately dismissed for alleged serious misconduct. The ERA considered both the pre-dismissal disadvantage claims and the termination itself.

Matched passage: The determination records that WMNZ starts a disciplinary process [79] On 14 December 2023 Mr Singh sent an email to Mr Blignaut attaching a letter requesting a meeting on 15 December 2023, for when Mr Blignaut was expected to return to work.
OCO v ZUA [2025] NZERA 790 - Constructive dismissal after unfair suspension and defective disciplinary process

OCO resigned after being suspended and put through a disciplinary process by ZUA. The case centred on whether the suspension and investigation were fair and whether the employer's cumulative conduct was serious enough to make the resignation a constructive dismissal.

Matched passage: ZUA then started a disciplinary process against OCO while refusing to identify the complainants or properly set out the allegations.
Kevin Whelan v The Board of Trustees of Lindisfarne College [2026] NZERA 558 - justified dismissal but notice breach caused disadvantage

Lindisfarne College dismissed long-serving IT manager Kevin Whelan after a serious comment to students while showing CCTV footage of an accident. Although the misconduct could justify dismissal, the College paid four weeks in lieu rather than complying with the collective agreement's one-month notice mechanism or properly invoking instant dismissal.

Matched passage: The collective agreement still had to be followed The collective agreement provided that termination would be on one month's notice unless otherwise agreed, except where serious misconduct warranted instant dismissal.
Daniel Bly v FutureCo Limited [2026] NZERA 269 - dismissal for Instagram posts and Slack messages held unjustified; $15,000 compensation; 6 months' pay less 50% contribution

Daniel Bly was dismissed by FutureCo after Instagram posts and internal Slack messages became the subject of disciplinary allegations. The case tested both the seriousness of the conduct and whether the employer's investigation and dismissal response were proportionate.

Matched passage: Social media discipline needs evidence of harm: "reputation damage" is not assumed.
Mandeep Singh v PR Kahlon Limited and Satpal Singh [2026] NZERA 521 - performance dismissal failed because employee was not fairly heard

PR Kahlon had genuine, documented concerns about delivery driver Mandeep Singh's performance and safety, but knew English was a serious barrier and still used English for critical disciplinary communications rather than Punjabi. His suspension and dismissal followed without a clear opportunity to understand and answer the case against him.

Matched passage: The problem was whether Mr Singh genuinely understood their seriousness and had been given a reasonable chance to answer before dismissal.
Steven David Mitchell v Tasman Rugby Union Incorporated [2026] NZERA 435 - CEO returned to payroll on interim reinstatement

Tasman Rugby Union dismissed chief executive Steven Mitchell after an organisational review became intertwined with later misconduct allegations. He sought interim reinstatement, arguing the process appeared predetermined and that his substantive dismissal grievance had real strength.

Matched passage: It found that the review, the later disciplinary process and the material before the Board gave Mr Mitchell a strongly arguable case that adverse and personalised views had formed before the process was completed.
Selwyn McDonald v Traffica Roading Services Limited [2026] NZERA 360 - on-the-spot dismissal after heated worksite exchange

Traffica summarily dismissed foreman Selwyn McDonald on site after a heated exchange with a director. The ERA accepted that Mr McDonald made serious disrespectful comments with racial connotations, but he was given no chance to answer before being fired.

Matched passage: The warning referred to serious misconduct, abusive behaviour, and a number of road rage incidents, including one said to have occurred more than a year earlier.
LGY v Board of Trustees [2025] NZERA 809 - interim reinstatement ordered pending dismissal grievance (non-publication)

LGY sought interim reinstatement after being dismissed by a school board while the substantive personal grievance remained unresolved. The Board relied on serious allegations and workplace concerns, while LGY argued there was a strong arguable dismissal case and that reinstatement could operate pending a final hearing.

Matched passage: Disciplinary process and key documents In early November 2024 the chair of the Board recommended a disciplinary process for alleged misconduct/serious misconduct.

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