Drunk storeman sacked for Christmas

A storeman who turned up for work drunk on the last working day before Christmas last year has lost a bid to get his job back.

The Employment Court has dismissed a claim from Shri Ramlu Sidal that he was unjustifiably dismissed.

Mr Sidal worked at the Q store of Trentham Army Camp for 15 years and it was only with the arrival of a new staff sergeant in 2005 that he began to have trouble with his employer.

The Chief of Defence Force said Mr Sidal's dismissal was justified because he arrived drunk at work and there was a continuing pattern of insubordination, threatening and abusive behaviour toward his manager.

Mr Sidal was required to take on additional duties to replace tasks lost in a restructuring. He took steps to move a computer from an open counter to his own work area.

Mr Sidal was at a family function on December 22 last year and colleagues were concerned he was drunk when he turned up for work the next day. It is usual for employees to work a half day and be released on pay for the rest of the day on the last day before Christmas.

Given a finding of serious misconduct together with repeated misconduct the court found that a fair and reasonable employer was likely to have dismissed Mr Sidal despite his good service over 15 years.

- NZPA