Firm ordered to pay ex worker $16,000 over lost pay

Confusion over an employee's conflicting job contracts has resulted in electrical engineering firm Electrotech Controls paying the woman more than $16,000 in lost pay and compensation.

Wanita Rarere took a claim for unjustifiable dismissal against the Napier-based firm to the Employment Relations Authority.

Ms Rarere was employed by Electrotech as an apprentice and believed she was entitled to continue working for the company indefinitely once her apprenticeship was completed.

Confusion arose as she was covered by both an apprenticeship agreement and a series of rolling fixed term contracts.

Ms Rarere chose not to take up a casual position offered to her by the company at the completion of her apprenticeship.

The authority found that she was unjustifiably dismissed and that Electrotech breached her employment contract by not offering her subsidised medical insurance.

It ordered the company to pay Ms Rarere $7000 in compensation, $8482 gross in lost wages, and $939 in damages.

- NZPA