Company that axed worker attending funeral referred to Labour Inspectorate

A labour-hire company has faced a string of recent ERA decisions. Photo/File.

A company that unfairly dismissed a worker who was overseas attending a close relative's funeral has been referred to the Labour Inspectorate.

Following a number of recent decisions against BF7 trading the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) determined further investigation of its labour practices was necessary.

BF7 Trading operates a labour-hire business under the trading name of Filled Roles.

In the most recent decision made on September 19, ERA member Robin Arthur noted that the company was involved in four other recent cases concerning claims by former employees.

On December 8, 2017, the authority ordered BF7 to pay more than $6500 in arrears of wages and holiday pay owed to its former Wellington regional client manager Anthony de Vries.

On August 8, 2018 the authority ordered BF7 to pay builder Luke Brough $2366 for arrears of wages and holiday pay due for building services he carried out for a BF7 client.

On August 14 the authority ordered BF7 to pay carpenter Sebastian Jenkins $2131 for arrears of wages and holiday pay.

Also on August 14, 2018, the authority found BF7 unjustifiably dismissed carpenter Elija Senice while he was at a funeral and ordered the company to pay him remedies totalling more than $19,000 along with wage arrears of $3121 and a penalty of $2000 for not providing wage and time records when requested.

Another ERA decision, not mentioned by Arthur, was made on September 17, 2018, with BF7 ordered to pay carpenter Andrew Cederman $10,710 in lost wages, compensation of $15,000 and costs of $1500.

In the latest decision made on September 19, the ERA ordered the company to pay former employee An Quoc Do $1304.10 of wages he was owed.

Arthur explained it was necessary to refer the matter to the Labour Inspectorate because the number of previous orders against the company may indicate wider problems in its compliance with employment standards.

Speaking to the Herald today, Filled Roles general manager Roy Bishop conceded that the company had made mistakes this year.

Bishop said that rapid growth at the business meant that correct procedures weren't always followed and the company was now working to ensure that these issues weren't repeated in the future.

"We are fully committed to sorting it out," Bishop said.

"We went through some growing pains, but we have employed professionals to ensure these issues aren't repeated.

However, Bishop added that BF7 would be lodging appeals in regard to the Senice and Cederman cases as the company believed there were grounds to contest these decisions.

He said payment had already or would shortly be made in all the other cases.

Bishop said BF7 was not facing any other cases at this stage.

Asked about the prospect of a Labour Inspectorate investigation, Bishop said he would engage with the process to ensure his company was fully compliant in the future.