Sacked lingerie saleswoman awarded $15,000

A sales executive for a sexy lingerie and costume company has been awarded almost $15,000 after she was unfairly dismissed via email.

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found transtasman distributor Picone Group Australasia was unjustified in sacking Danneil Keit for failing to communicate and update databases.

Ms Keit had been warned twice by the company's director of sales - once on the telephone and once via email.

During a telephone conversation in July 2007, Ms Keit conceded she had not properly dispatched databases and agreed to do better, the report said.

Less than two weeks later she was emailed a "second official warning" confirming the first telephoned warning.

On August 30 Ms Keit emailed the director to say she was ill and would fax a medical certificate if required.

She was dismissed the next day.

The ERA report concluded Ms Keit was not given "every opportunity to improve" and it was unfair to dismiss her in such circumstances.

She was awarded $9940 in lost wages and $5000 in compensation for hurt and humiliation.

- NZPA