Stevenson and Greenstyle Pty Ltd and Penshurst Pty Ltd t/as Atama Furniture [2002] NSWIRComm 292

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales

CITATION : Stevenson and Greenstyle Pty Ltd and Penshurst Pty Ltd t/as Atama Furniture [2002] NSWIRComm 292 APPLICANT: PARTIES : Edward John Stevenson RESPONDENT: Greenstyle Nominees Pty Ltd and Penshurst Investments Pty Ltd t/as Atama Furniture FILE NUMBER: 6500 of 2001 CORAM: Sams DP Termination of employment - unfair dismissal - furniture business - allegations of conspiracy to dismiss - whether warnings or counsellings given - employee's conduct and behaviour - customer and employee complaints against applicant - both parties unrepresented - whether dismissal "harsh, unreasonable or unjust" - procedural fairness - principles considered. CATCHWORDS : Held, dubious relevance of material - Commission satisfied that both parties understood their rights and obligations under the Act - serious reservations with applicant's evidence - respondent's evidence preferred - numerous written and verbal warnings over long period - warnings ignored - applicant's misrepresentations - applicant's behaviour and conduct unacceptable - other employee and customer complaints sustained - end of respondent's patience - no evidence of conspiracy to dismiss - respondent entitled to ask for resignation - constructive dismissal - no issues of procedural fairness - dismissal not "harsh, unreasonable or unjust" - application dismissed. LEGISLATION CITED : Industrial Relations Act 1996 Western Suburbs District Ambulance Committee v Tipping (1957) AR (NSW) 273 Byrne & Anor v Australian Airlines (1995) 61 IR 32 Outboard World v Muir (1993) 51 IR 167 Bankstown City Council v Paris (1999) 93 IR 209 Antonakopoulos v State Bank of New South Wales (1999) 91 IR 385 D & R Commercial v Flood [2002] NSWIRComm 88 CASES CITED : Wilson v Department of Education and Training [2000] NSWIRComm 20 Helprin v Westfield Limited & Anor (1996) 68 IR 25 Nicholls and Central Sydney Area Health Service (unreported) Sams DP, IRC4131 of 1999, 25 August 2000 Herbert and Warrah Ltd [2001] NSWIRComm 109 Stephan and R L Whyburn and Associates [2000] NSWIRComm 154 Abdullah Al-Shennag v Bankstown City Council Civic Services Group [2002] NSWIRComm 150 Vincent v Le Cornu Furniture and Carpet Centre Pty Ltd (1996) 71 IR 227 Coghlan v D & D Advertising (unreported, Connor C, IRC6028 of 2001, 15 July 2002 HEARING DATES: 07/01/2002; 07/02/2002; 08/19/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 11/14/2002