A Christchurch woman who was accused of shopping online on company time has been awarded $8000 in lost wages and compensation. Victoria Self was employed by consultancy firm Receivables Management Limited (RML) in 2014, but was unjustifiably dismissed by her employer just over a month later. Her 90-day employment trial was cut short after colleagues reported to managers that she was “always” on Trade Me and personal internet sites. Following her dismissal, the case was taken to the Employment Relations Authority which found the company breached conditions of trial provisions and has since been ordered to pay compensation on the grounds of humiliation and to make up lost wages. Self claims she was denied a “dignified exit” and “humiliated in front of other staff members” following an unexpected termination letter. She said her manager Ross Fleming forced her to pack up her belongings and leave the company premises after a brief meeting. Self, who worked with the consultancy firm in 2014 between July and August, said she was unjustifiably disadvantaged as the company failed to comply with its human resources policy. RML denied this, adding that Self did not sign an IEA employment contract when she started the job.
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