'Insensitive' insurance company forced to pay worker $17,000

An insurance company has been ordered to pay $17,000 to a worker after it behaved in an "insensitive" way and forced her to resign.

Elise Sandra Schoonebeek had been employed as a data processor at Albany Insurance Services Ltd since 2005, the Employment Relations Authority was told.

She was the sole caregiver of her mother and in July 2007 her mother was incapacitated for two months after breaking her ankle.

Albany Insurance director Debbie Hutton was initially sympathetic and told Ms Schoonebeek she could start work later each day if she made up the time.

However, Ms Hutton and one of the company's other directors, Jeremy Bleakley, started becoming unhappy with Ms Schoonebeek's start times.

In August 2007, Mr Bleakley asked Ms Schoonebeek questioned whether her mother was taking advantage of the situation.

He told her he was not prepared to tolerate her coming in late any longer and she needed to commit to a regular start time.

Ms Schoonebeek said she had been making up time as agreed and if she was being asked for an exact time she would have to resign.

The next day, Mr Bleakley told Ms Schoonebeek the company accepted her verbal resignation and then placed a prepared resignation letter in front of her.

Ms Schoonebeek signed the letter and was told by Mr Bleakley she did not have to serve her notice and that she would leave straight away.

The authority found that Albany Insurance behaved in an "insensitive and unfair way towards Ms Schoonebeek".

It said Ms Schoonebeek was unjustifiably constructively dismissed and ordered the company to pay $11,000 in reimbursement and $6000 in compensation.

- NZPA