A plumbing supplier company which sacked its general manager because he did not fit in with the company, even though he was a "nice person", has had to pay the man more than $36,000.
Mark George complained to the Employment Relations Authority for unjustified dismissal after receiving an email from
Auckland-based SPK Industries Ltd which fired him after just nine weeks in the role.
He was called to a meeting with the company's director Liangren Li last October and told he was unsuitable for the general manager position but would be given work as a contractor instead.
Mr Li followed this meeting with an email to Mr George which said: "Following our meeting this afternoon, I just put in writing for your record. From your last 9 weeks performance we feel you are a nice person to work with. But not suit SPK GM role. According contract signed, we would like to terminate the employment contract with 4 weeks notice (sic)."
Authority member Rachel Larmer said Mr George was never subject to a performance management or monitoring process.
