KEY POINTS:
A woman who was awarded $8000 by the Employment Relations Authority after she was unjustifiably dismissed from her job had the amount decreased by 20 per cent because of her foul language during the dismissal process.
Sharon McDonald was employed as New Lynn, Auckland store manager for Specialty Fashion Group - formerly Miller's Retail - in 2005.
Regional manager Donna Shannon told her a complaint had been made against her by a former employee.
Ms McDonald responded by saying Ms Shannon could "stick the job" and she wasn't "putting up with this any more, she wasn't paid enough for this crap".
The next day Ms McDonald said to Ms Shannon that she didn't want to "f**k you around but is there a way around this?"
Two days later Ms Shannon phoned Ms McDonald to discuss other allegations against her, such as taking extra long breaks and babysitting her grandchildren in the store.
She also said she accepted Ms McDonald's resignation.
Authority member Leon Robinson said Ms McDonald's comments did not amount to her resigning so she had effectively been dismissed.
While he commended Ms Shannon for not reacting to Ms McDonald's comments, he said she shouldn't have fired her over the telephone.
- NZPA
