Man ordered to pay $100k to ex-wife after firing her

The couple were equal shareholders in a business which operated a Hawera sushi shop. File photo / Thinkstock

A man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife and business partner more than $100,000 after their relationship ended and she was sacked.

The Employment Relations Authority found that Hee Seung Lee didn't pay his wife Hye Rim Ji and was unjustified in dismissing her from work.

The couple are equal shareholders in the business Dream High Ltd, which operated a sushi shop in Hawera.

The couple had verbally agreed that Ms Ji would be paid for her work, often 11 hours a day, six days a week, when the shop was profitable, the ERA decision said.

Mr Lee kept no records of hours worked and there was no written contract between the couple.

However, the personal relationship between the two ended. Ms Ji asked Mr Lee to move out and in retaliation he cut off power and her phone and stopped paying her.

He put Ms Ji on notice at work and on June 3, 2013 she stopped working.

The authority said Mr Lee accused Ms Ji of embezzling money and illegally employing her parents, claims which she adamantly denied.

Authority member Paul Stapp found that Ms Ji's evidence before the authority was more reliable than Mr Lee's and he dismissed a counter-claim made by Mr Lee.

Mr Stapp said in his findings "the family and personal relationship matters have become all-consuming" and that was the reason for Mr Lee to put Ms Ji on notice.

Mr Stapp found Ms Ji's dismissal was unjustified.

Dream High Ltd was ordered to pay Ms Ji $73,490 in wage arrears and holiday pay, $11,717.50 in lost wages and $10,000 for hurt and humiliation.

He awarded the $5474.89 costs of the authority hearing be paid to Ms Ji.