Ms Hinde went to the Employment Relations Authority alleging she had been unjustifiably dismissed.
Mr Chien did not deny having told Ms Hinde she could not return to work, but explained he thought he had sold the business.
It appeared that sale later collapsed.
"Clearly, Mr Chien ought to have welcomed her back to the business once her accident leave had concluded and if, as he maintained then, the business was in the process of being sold, then he still had obligations to Ms Hinde during the period at least while he maintained charge of the business," ERA member James Crichton said.
Mr Crichton concluded Ms Hinde was unjustifiably dismissed from her job.
"She suffered a legitimate injury as a consequence of an accident and was placed off work by her general practitioner who supported that decision with the appropriate medical certificates provided to the employer."
The hurt, humiliation and injury to Ms Hinde's feelings were clear, he found.
Mr Crichton ordered Mr Chien to pay Ms Hinde $2250 in compensation, one week's wages in lieu of notice in the sum of $490, and $4500 in a contribution to lost wages.