Worker loses unfair dismissal claim

A support worker fired for using a cattle prod on a severely handicapped person has lost her claim for unfair dismissal.

Purnima Fleet, formerly a community support worker for IDEA Services, was dismissed on February 15 last year for serious misconduct.

The Employment Relations Authority said in its written decision that according to two other intellectually disabled people, Ms Fleet used the cattle prod and yelled at the victim each time he wet his bed.

She denied the abuse.