Jail staffer loses grievance case over love affair

A Northland prison worker who had a relationship with a former inmate has lost her employment grievance case.

Pamela-Anne Ngohe-Simon was employed as the personal assistant to the manager of Ngawha Prison and then as the jail's work-to-release co-ordinator.

Ms Ngohe-Simon claimed she was unjustifiably dismissed after she revealed she had formed a relationship with a former inmate, and that they were going to live together. The Department of Corrections said Ms Ngohe-Simon had not been dismissed but had instead abandoned her job.

Corrections claimed when she raised the issue relating to her employment, it was outside the 90-day limit for filing grievances.

Corrections had sent a letter to Ms Ngohe-Simon saying it would not be possible for her to remain working at the prison in either of the roles. She was asked to comment about the likelihood of losing her job but instead raised a grievance relating to what she alleged was a suspension.

After that there had been communication between Corrections and Ms Ngohe-Simon and both had indicated proposals to end the employment by agreement. However, Ms Ngohe-Simon then told her lawyer she had been dismissed from her job.

In an affidavit, Ms Ngohe-Simon said she had become anxious over problems in her personal relationship and had a three-month bout of depression. She was referred for specialist assessment.

Employment Relations Authority member Yvonne Oldfield said she was not satisfied Ms Ngohe-Simon was so traumatised by the ending of her job that she could not raise a grievance in time.