As we near this year’s election, the nexus between statute and protocols imposed by employers has come into focus in a recent Employment Relations Authority decision. The Personal Assistant to the Mayor and Chief Executive of Whangarei District Council nominated an opposing Mayoral candidate to run for office. She was then fired.

James Watchorn stole his former employer’s 'secret recipes' for locating oil. He is now going to jail for 30 months and has also been ordered to pay $77,567. This case, the first of its kind and therefore decided in the absence of similar case law, has been a landmark decision by the Courts.

Drug testing in the workplace is a sensitive issue that is often difficult for employers to navigate. Drug testing will generally be acceptable in a safety-sensitive workplace but even then it can cause angst between the employer and employees. However, as shown in a recent case concerning Carter Holt Harvey, it is imperative that employers adhere to applicable policies and procedures.

Some of you may remember the case of Dickson v Idea Services Limited. This case had a profound impact on New Zealand employment law. Philip Dickson was a community support worker who performed ‘sleepovers’ caring for people with disabilities in community homes.