Free-drink sacking upheld

A bar manager fired for giving away free drinks and being caught with her boyfriend at work in an allegedly "compromising" position had her appeal against the sacking dismissed yesterday.

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) said Jan-Hai Iosefa was properly dismissed from her job with Canterbury Hospitality Group.

Ms Iosefa was a manager in a bar and restaurant run by the group. She was disciplined and given a final warning for repeatedly giving away free drinks.

On one occasion, she was asked to put money in an office safe. When she didn't return after 15 or 20 minutes, she was "discovered in the office with her boyfriend, allegedly in a compromising position, and with the money still undeposited in the safe", according to the just-released employment decision.

A witness told the ERA Ms Iosefa was seen kissing her boyfriend "passionately".

ERA member James Crichton said in his ruling that the process and the decision to fire Ms Iosefa in July 2004 were fair and reasonable.

"I am satisfied," he said, "that it was available to a fair and reasonable employer to reach the conclusion that Ms Iosefa had ... committed serious misconduct ... by allowing her boyfriend to join her in a management office with a significant amount of the employer's money."

- NZPA