Builder told 'stop being a baby' after boss sent aggressive text

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A builder told to stop being a baby and get back to work after bringing up an aggressive text he was sent by his boss has been awarded $5000.

Trent Williams worked as an apprentice builder for Burkhart Building from March 2014.

The employment ended less than two months later, and the Employment Relations Authority has found Williams was unjustifiably dismissed.

Williams worked for James Burkhart the sole director and shareholder of Burkhart Building.

In April 2014 Burkhart sent a text message to Williams about some batteries for his equipment not being recharged. "When you f***ing pack up the gear make sure batterys and chargers go back into the gun cases. I have one battery irs flat (sic)" the text said.

Williams didn't reply to the text, but the following Monday morning he raised it with his boss.

In response, Burkhart told Williams not to take it personally, to stop being a baby and to get back to work.

Member of the Authority Vicki Campbell found that "robust language" was part of their day-to-day dealings and common across the wider building industry.

Williams wasn't unjustifiably disadvantaged by the use of language by his boss, she said.

The following week, Williams and Burkhart were talking on the phone when Burkhart said it seemed that Williams wasn't happy in his job.

Burkhart said he should be looking for work elsewhere, and Williams agreed and said "sweet as".

Williams told the Authority he was acknowledging what Burkhart was saying, rather than agreeing with the offer to look for work elsewhere.

Williams said there was no opportunity for him to respond to Burkhart's concern about his performance.

Campbell found that there was not actual agreement from both parties that Williams was to end his employment and ordered Burkhart Building to pay Williams $5000 in remedies.

Read the full ERA decision here: