Unfair dismissal for buying discounted goods…

 

An employee dismissed for buying items that she had marked down has won her unjustified dismissal claim in the Employment Relations Authority and more than $16,000 in wages and compensation.  The employer alleged that buying goods that an employee had marked down was contrary to the workplace policies.

The ERA found the dismissal to be unjustified because the policies were unclear and had not been put in writing.  In addition the sale had been carried out by the employee’s supervisor, who knew the employee had marked down the items but said nothing at the time of the sale.  This was held to be approval of the transaction.

If you want to enforce policies and procedures you need to set them out clearly, and preferably in writing.  You must also make sure they are brought to the staff’s attention and enforced in a consistent way. 

If you need assistance getting policies into place, or enforcing them, give me a call on (04) 473 6850.

Alan Knowsley