Employee awarded over $10,300 after being dismissed without notice…

An employee working as an office administrator has had her position terminated after her employer moved the business to another premises without informing her of the new address. The employer did not ask the employee to work at the new premises, and did not reply to the employee’s messages asking for confirmation of her employment status.

The Employment Relations Authority upheld the employee’s personal grievance claim for unjustified dismissal.

The ERA held that the employer’s conduct amounted to a dismissal without notice.

The ERA concluded that the employer had no substantive reason to dismiss the employee, and noted that no process was followed when terminating the employee.

The ERA awarded the employee over $1,300 in outstanding wages and holiday pay, and over $5,000 for lost wages plus $4,000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings.

Alan Knowsley

Employment Lawyer Wellington