Payout after job falls through

The owners of the tiny Akaroa Cinema in Canterbury have been ordered to pay $5255 to a woman who never worked at the theatre after an employment arrangement fell through.

Anna Wilding took cinema owners Jim and Maxine Marron to the Employment Relations Authority, saying she was unjustifiably dismissed when they offered her a job but later told her she was not needed. The Marrons denied ever offering her a job.

Authority member James Crichton, in his decision released yesterday, said there was dispute over whether Mrs Marron had offered Ms Wilding a permanent job during a meeting at the cinema in November last year, or whether it was for just a few days' work.

Mr Marron was not at the meeting because he had to go home to rescue a cake baking in the oven.

However, later Ms Wilding was told the Marrons had been approached by another person who wanted to run the cinema, which would change her working situation.

Mr Crichton said that while Ms Wilding's response could have been criticised as overzealous, her position that she was unjustifiably dismissed was made out.

He drew attention to an email that said the cinema owners were "excited that you are coming to join us at the cinema. We will draw up a roster of work hours soon." A following email made it plain Mrs Marron was contemplating Ms Wilding working particular hours over a particular period.

- NZPA