Salinger stressed by new office: lawyer

Climate scientist Jim Salinger was stressed by moving to a new, open-plan office and it was not the time for his bosses to crack down on him, the Employment Relations Authority was told yesterday.

After a five-day hearing during which the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) was accused of bullying, and Dr Salinger of being "obsessive" and "economical with the truth", the authority reserved its decision on Dr Salinger's compensation claim against his former employer.

Dr Salinger claims that he was unjustifiably dismissed for allegedly ignoring a Niwa policy against speaking publicly without prior approval.

Authority member Leon Robinson said the case boiled down to whether Niwa could justify the sacking in light of three alleged breaches of its media policy.

Dr Salinger's lawyer, Alex Hope, said Niwa should not have started disciplinary proceedings when it did, because it had been easy to see Dr Salinger was stressed by - among other things - moving offices after a long career in one place.

Niwa's lawyer, Peter Churchman, said claims that Dr Salinger's behaviour was caused by stress at moving to an open-plan environment "needed a reality check".

He said Dr Salinger had begun shouting at people, and had been referred to anger management but had refused. He described him as "disingenuous".

Dr Salinger earlier this week told the authority he had breached media policy in regard to a Radio New Zealand interview in February this year.

But he denied he breached the policy over two contacts he had with TVNZ this year.

Mr Hope suggested Niwa was swayed in its decision to sack him by concerns that Dr Salinger was becoming erratic in his behaviour.

Dr Salinger is seeking compensation for lost income up to 2012, with $104,000 lost superannuation money and $50,000 in compensation for humiliation and loss of dignity.