Health worker wins $10,000 compensation
Sourced Content
Radio New Zealand
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Max Towle
A health promoter has won an unfair dismissal case against the Waikato District Health Board (DHB) after it asked her to start commuting three hours every day.
Kathleen Archibald’s victory came before the Employment Relations Authority, which has now ruled she was treated unfairly.
The change to her role was part of the DHBs restructure of its public health services last year.
Change of Title
Her Thames-based role as a promoter was disestablished and renamed as a health improvement advisor.
Ms Archibald, who is 68 and has suffered from a serious kidney disease that required her to get a transplant, was told she had to commute from Thames to Hamilton – a round trip of just over 200 km per day.
She refused, citing health worries, and offered to attend meetings remotely by video link and travel to the city two days per week.
She was declined and dismissed without a severance payment.
During its investigation, the authority heard evidence from another health promoter in Thames who accepted the new role that she found the daily travel “extremely tiring.”
“I heard compelling evidence from one of the two employees of increased body weight and mental health concerns which she attributes to the amount of travel being undertaken,” Vicki Campbell, the Authority’s member.
The Authority also heard the evidence from a promoter that she feels guilty working a shorter day than her colleagues, as she arrives at the Hamilton office about 10 am and leaves at 330 pm.
Severance Payment
