Roast shop worker awarded $5000 after boss' Facebook insult

The employee, who used to work at Mot Hot Roasts in Motueka, said it was 'horrible' to read the things said about her on Facebook. File photo / NZ Herald

A roast shop worker has received $5000 in compensation after her boss called her a b**ch on Facebook.

Sarah Hunter worked at Mot Hot Roasts in Motueka, where she initially worked at least 40 hours a week. During her employment, she was presented with a new employment agreement by her manager Anthony Hendon, which reduced her hours to 37 a week but increased her hourly rate.

However, two weeks later the company's director Shane Holtham told her she was no longer required to work and terminated her employment, the Employment Relations Authority was told.

Ms Hunter claimed she was unjustifiably dismissed as although she was initially told that work had dried up, Mr Holtham later commented that her employment was ended due to poor work performance. She told the ERA that no fair process was followed.

In the aftermath of Ms Hunter's dismissal, Mr Holtham wrote a post on Facebook referring to her as "a money hungry b**ch", adding that "some b**tches are just greedy" and she was "going to bleed us dry". He also wrote that he would let the rest of Motueka's cafes and restaurants know to watch out for her.

Ms Hunter told the ERA the post was "horrible to read" and felt that despite not being named, everyone in Motueka would know it was about her, as she was the store's only female employee.

Mr Holtham took down the post on the same day it was published and told the ERA he regretted what he had done.

The ERA ruled that Mot Hot Roasts must pay Ms Hunter $1195.35 in gross unpaid wages and a further $5000 as compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to her feelings.

Costs were reserved.