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Construction workers Nan Jia and Huachao Hou alleged FX NZ made unlawful rent deductions from wages and failed to pay public-holiday, annual-leave and other minimum entitlements. Their case combined employment-standard claims with personal-grievance issues about the employer's treatment of them.

Ronald Shea's hours at STLand Contracting fell sharply before he was told by phone that there was no more work for him. He also alleged bullying and an unsafe workplace, while the employer had undertaken no redundancy or dismissal consultation.

Jimmy Nelson was dismissed by The Digger Man after repeated attendance problems and unexplained absences. The employer had genuine concerns, but the issue was whether it gave him a final, fair opportunity to understand the seriousness of the latest incidents and explain himself before termination.

Duane April, a migrant worker, alleged Coatrite Fire underpaid his agreed hourly rate, made unlawful deductions, subjected him to racialised comments and later dismissed him after a defective disciplinary process. The decision maker did not attend the disciplinary meeting and important allegations were not fairly tested.

Lita Beattie worked as Head Chef/Kitchen Manager in a relationship the respondent treated inconsistently and left with significant wage arrears. The ERA had to determine employee status, unpaid entitlements and whether employer conduct forced her resignation.

Shaoqiang Chen worked long hours as a cook at Beached As Takeaways, was paid cash below lawful rates and later had his employment ended. The case involved employer identity, minimum-wage and holiday entitlements, record failures and the justification for dismissal.

Mr Zhang paid a $3,730 premium to obtain restaurant employment and later accumulated substantial unpaid wages. He resigned after the employment relationship deteriorated and argued the employer's breaches had forced that resignation.

Angus Jowitt worked in a music shop under a disputed contractor-or-employee arrangement and was paid cash below the rate the employer accepted had been agreed. After a conflict over work and coffee, the employer later relied on resignation rather than dismissal.