Worker wins Christmas drugs sacking case

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

A young worker accused of spiking colleagues' drinks with drugs at an Auckland company Christmas party has won a ruling that she was unjustifiably sacked.

But the Employment Relations Authority did not order any compensation.

Gillian Bearman ended the night in hospital, unconscious from an overdose of the drug GHB, after telecommunications company Zintel's Christmas party last year.

She claimed her own drink was spiked at a nightclub, and said a male workmate found with her in a "compromising position" by his girlfriend made a malicious complaint to save his relationship.

The authority found that Ms Bearman took drugs to the party, but said Zintel relied on "unchecked hearsay" in dismissing her after the workmate, Alan Jamieson, said he saw her squirting clear liquid from a syringe into several people's drinks.

Mr Jamieson said he also believed his own drink was spiked.

But authority member Dzintra King expressed concern that managers Tony Waldegrave and Paul Morgan did not question his motive for laying a complaint.

Ms Bearman denied taking drugs to the party and told the managers that Mr Jamieson was found with her in a compromising position by a fellow employee who was his girlfriend.

"It appears that Mr Jamieson threatened to jump into the water at the Tamaki Yacht Club and that the police were called," Dr King said.

Ms Bearman left the party and drank some Red Bull laced with GHB before collapsing unconscious.

Dr King said she applauded the managers' desire to deal with possible drug use in the workplace, but they did not conduct a fair and reasonable investigation.