Timaru couple awarded $ 40,995 after unjustified dismissal

A car wash company in Christchurch was ordered to pay $ 40,995 to a Timaru couple fired after about two weeks.

Truck Wash Station Ltd, Clinton Glenn Tamatea his only director, "unjustifiably fired" Cassandra Weaver and Scott Bruning after they arrived late to work on March 16, 2018, Helen Doyle of the Employment Relations Authority found.

Weaver and Bruning's confidence was shot after being fired, their struggle to find new jobs, seeing them driven out of their rental housing and moving with a family member in Timaru.

Both Weaver, whose first day at work was on March 5, and Bruning, who started seven days later, were repaid at $ 10,497.50 for lost wages.

An additional $ 12,000 prize for Weaver and $ 8,000 for Bruning "recognizes the impact of humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings," Doyle said.

The couple did nothing to justify their dismissal, she said.

On the morning that Weaver and Bruning were fired, they had trouble turning on the car and called Tamatea "well in advance" from the 7am start time to say they might be late. His boss replied "sweet as" and the couple arrived at 7:20.

"Mr. Bruning went to the office and said that Mr. Tamatea told him, in no uncertain terms, that he had a business to manage and" irritate. ""

Weaver thought that "a very bad asthma attack" she suffered two days before her resignation, where Bruning stayed home with her to take care of her, also contributed.

"Tamatea was fine with this when she advised him and she did not feel he was unhappy," Doyle said.

"The next day, Miss Weaver went back to work and said she was a little slower because of the asthma attack, and that Mr. Tamatea said to" speed up the pace. "

Doyle said the company did not comply with the Employment Relations Act of 2000 – which says allegations against an official should be investigated with a "reasonable opportunity" for them to respond.

While Bruning had no prior history with the company – Weaver worked there between February and August 2015, until Tamatea stopped offering her work and interrupted contact.

"She said she was in a 90-day trial period at the time, and although she found the lack of communication unsatisfactory, she concluded that there was more work for her to do," Doyle said.

"Miss Weaver was also able to produce a final Truck Wash payment receipt dated August 26, 2015, showing a payment for vacation pay she says she was never received."

Weaver was hesitant, but he needed money when he called Tamatea about three years later, asking for a job washing the truck.