Car salesman fired for honesty

A used-car salesman fired for refusing to carry out a dishonest transaction has been awarded nearly $26,000 for lost wages and hurt and humiliation.

Gary Fraser worked for Francis Weston at Sportscar World in Stratford, Taranaki, from February until July last year when he was fired.

On July 18, Mr Weston asked him to register a car despite not having the proper paperwork.

Mr Fraser refused and two days later, when he confronted Mr Weston about using his name to falsely register a car, he was fired.

Mr Fraser launched a personal grievance claim with the Employment Relations Authority. In a written judgment it has ordered Mr Weston to pay him $15,300 for 17 weeks' lost wages and unpaid holiday pay, interest to be paid on that, $8000 compensation for humiliation, and $2500 costs - a total of $25,800 plus the interest.

Mr Weston was also ordered to pay a $500 penalty to the Crown by ERA member Denis Asher.

"Mr Fraser's dismissal was unlawful in that he was dismissed - and here I accept Mr Fraser's uncontested evidence - for refusing to undertake dishonest behaviour."

Mr Weston had claimed he fired Mr Fraser for stealing a vehicle and for passing on company information to competitors, but Mr Asher said there was no evidence to back up those allegations.

"There is every indication that Mr Fraser's unjustifiable dismissal occurred in the context of an angry rage by his employer that was generated by [Mr Fraser's] refusal to behave dishonestly, as required by Mr Weston."

After being unemployed for 17 weeks, Mr Fraser is now working as a salesman at a truck wrecking company.

Sportscar World is no longer trading.

- NZPA