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Workplace bullying has cost an Otago engineering company more than $30,000.
Sandra McCullough, formerly employed by Otago Sheetmetal and Engineering Ltd as an office administrator, took the company to the Employment Relations Authority over a foreman's bullying and what she considered to be her constructive dismissal.
In a determination issued today, authority member James Crichton directed the company to pay Ms McCullough $7500 for her disadvantage grievance, $12,000 for unjustified dismissal and $13,000 gross as a contribution to lost wages.
Ms McCullough admitted there had been some initial performance concerns by the company which were dealt with consensually.
As time went on she became increasingly anxious about the attitude of Otago Sheetmetal's foreman, a Mr Hurring, who, she said, had taken a dislike to her.
She said she raised the matter with company manager Ian Moran, but it was not rectified.
Eventually she thought she was losing her position because she thought aspects of her job were being allocated to another person in the office, so she resigned.
She contended her resignation was forced on her by the company's failure to address her concerns.
Otago Sheetmetal said that at all times Ms McCullough was fairly and properly treated, that all the allegations she had brought to the attention of the employer were properly and carefully considered, and that her fundamental contentions were baseless.
The authority heard from two witnesses who gave examples of seeing Mr Hurring picking on Ms McCullough, swearing at her and referring to her as "the dragon".
Both said that Mr Hurring picked on people on the staff, and one of them said he had been "the victim of choice" for a time.
Mr Crichton said he was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that, despite his denials, Mr Hurring did in fact bully Ms McCullough.
"I was impressed with Mr Hurring's commitment to his work and devotion to his employer, but all the evidence suggests that his people skills are poor indeed," Mr Crichton said.
He said he was satisfied Mr Hurring was "indeed a bully" and he accepted evidence from Ms McCullough's witnesses that she was a particular victim of his bullying activities.
Mr Crichton said Ms McCullough did everything she reasonably could to get the help of her employer in resolving the bullying issue and he concluded Otago Sheetmetal did not deal properly with her complaint.
He said Mr Moran knew, or ought to have known, that Mr Hurring's interpersonal skills were gravely deficient.
"I find that Mr Moran must have known that there was something amiss with Mr Hurring's behaviour, but sadly I fear that he may have been unreasonably influenced by Mr Hurring's obvious talent as a tradesman, and by Ms McCullough's equally obvious difficulties in delivering quality outcomes in her work," Mr Crichton said.
- NZPA