KEY POINTS:
A landscape gardener who told a sacked worker he would not get a "dime" out of him has been ordered to hand over $23,348.
The Employment Relations Authority ruled that Frank Burgess was unjustified in dismissing Jeremy Kirk.
Mr Burgess employed Mr Kirk in April last year.
Mr Kirk said five months into his employment, he was called into the office of his employer, who raised performance issues.
There had never been any indication of his employer's intention to raise concerns and he had no opportunity to be represented or address the allegations.
Mr Burgess then told Mr Kirk: "F*** off - you're not getting a dime from me."
Authority member Denis Asher said Mr Burgess had been given the opportunity to attend the authority hearings into the case, but he had not turned up.
"I am also satisfied that Mr Burgess has obstructed rather than facilitated the authority's investigation and has failed to act in good faith towards Mr Kirk."
The authority ordered Mr Burgess to pay $8000 for humiliation, $11,400 for lost wages and $1948.88 in unpaid holiday pay. He was also ordered to pay $2000 for Mr Kirk's legal costs.
- NZPA
