NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Bullied employee awarded $56K after resigning from ‘hostile and toxic’ workplace

Tara Shaskey
By Tara Shaskey
Open Justice multimedia journalist, Taranaki·NZ Herald·
27 Mar, 2023 12:34 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A woman resigned from her job after she was bullied and belittled by a colleague. Photo / File

A woman resigned from her job after she was bullied and belittled by a colleague. Photo / File

A woman who was “bullied” by a colleague from her first day on the job was eventually placed on sick leave by her doctor for work-related stress. She went on to resign after the “hostile and toxic” workplace failed to address her concerns and now she has been awarded more than $56,000.

Katherine McIntyre was employed as an administrative assistant at the Workingman’s Club (the Club) but left in November 2021 after only six months on the job.

Following her resignation, she turned to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) where she sought reimbursement for lost wages and compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings.

She told the ERA her resignation was a constructive dismissal or alternatively that she was subjected to unjustified actions that disadvantaged her in her employment.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

After the authority held its investigation meeting last month and received submissions relating to the case, it released its decision last week.

The identity of the Club’s operator has been granted temporary suppression and permanent non-publication orders have been made in relation to the person McIntyre claims bullied her, and her general manager.

The determination sets out McIntyre’s short time with the Club and what she was subjected to during that period.

Her employment began in May 2021 and her role was to assist the general manager, P, and her colleague, X.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

McIntyre said she experienced bullying behaviour from X from the start of her employment. She tried to approach X directly about her concerns but that was unsuccessful.

She then asked P to have a meeting with her and X to try to resolve the issues but that was also in vain.

The matter was heard before the Employment Relations Authority. Photo / Stock Image 123rf
The matter was heard before the Employment Relations Authority. Photo / Stock Image 123rf

After she made a written complaint, there was an independent investigation into her allegations in August 2021. It found the way she had been treated amounted to bullying.

Among the independent investigator’s findings, it said McIntyre had not been welcomed as a reasonable person might expect to be, was yelled at unnecessarily on her first day by X and this raised voice was a regular feature of his management. She was also ignored and had information withheld from her, and was belittled.

“It was the opinion of the independent investigator that X did not agree with Ms McIntyre’s appointment and had stated that she did not have the skills that he wanted and had no apparent interest in managing her.”

McIntyre was advised the following month that her complaint had been upheld but the Club took no further steps to address the issue.

She continued to experience behaviour that she considered to be of a bullying nature from X and in November 2021 she was placed on sick leave by her doctor for work-related stress.

While on leave, she sent a letter to P and the interim committee of the Club advising that unless the situation was resolved satisfactorily before her return to work on November 12, she would have no option but to resign.

Three days after she returned, McIntyre tendered her resignation effective immediately.

She had not received a response to her earlier letter and felt the lack of acknowledgement showed “they were happy for her to resign and no longer wished to employ her.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“...I can no longer work in the hostile and toxic environment that permeates throughout the Club. This is mostly instigated by X’s condescending and belittling ways, not only of me but of other staff members,” McIntyre wrote in her resignation letter.

McIntyre told the ERA that after she left, she was an “absolute mess” and “a shell of the person that she once was.”

The Club told the authority it had attempted to resolve the issues with McIntyre but its ability to do so was constrained by its resources, debt and ongoing cashflow issues.

In its findings, the ERA said the Club breached its duty to provide McIntyre with a safe working environment. It said her resignation was caused by that serious breach as no resolution of her concerns was likely.

The authority accepted that McIntyre had suffered a significant loss of confidence and other long-term side effects of bullying.

It ordered the Club to pay her $26,465.40 for reimbursement of lost wages and $30,000 compensation, to be paid in six instalments.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The authority concluded by saying that bullying is a serious issue and can lead to serious harm. It recommended the club introduce a policy around bullying and harassment.

“In this matter, a policy would have identified what the next steps would be where bullying was concluded. The employment relationship problem may not then have arisen.”

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

NZ Herald News Update: July 8, 2025

New Zealand

Herald NOW Weather: June 23, 2025

New Zealand

Couple jailed for neglect of 4-year-old were suspected of his murder

07 Jul 06:44 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

NZ Herald News Update: July 8, 2025

NZ Herald News Update: July 8, 2025

NZ Herald News Update: July 8, 2025

Herald NOW Weather: June 23, 2025

Herald NOW Weather: June 23, 2025

Couple jailed for neglect of 4-year-old were suspected of his murder

Couple jailed for neglect of 4-year-old were suspected of his murder

07 Jul 06:44 PM
Premium
'100% a crisis': More than 900 women wait for specialist gynaecology care in Hawke’s Bay

'100% a crisis': More than 900 women wait for specialist gynaecology care in Hawke’s Bay

07 Jul 06:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP