The Employment Relations Authority has ordered an employer to pay a year’s salary plus $13,000.00 for damage to an employee’s reputation and hurt and humiliation.  In addition reinstatement was ordered after a year out of the business.

Once again an employer failed to follow the correct process for raising disciplinary matters with an employee.  They failed to put accusations to the employee, failed to give an opportunity to respond, and acted on unfounded accusations of dishonesty.

The employee was dismissed on the spot without ever being told what the accusations were, and was not even asked for an explanation.
One alleged failing was of not following procedures which turned out to relate to a period when the employee was away on sick leave so they could not have been involved. 

Another was that they suspected money was going to be stolen when the employee contacted the bank for information at the suggestion of the auditor.  She was fired as soon as the employer found out she had talked to the bank without asking why she was contacting the bank, which was related to her tasks.

For our free guide on how to carry out a disciplinary investigation see the download section on our website or call Alan Knowsley.