Ex nursing head gets $10.5k for wrongful sacking | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

A former nursing school director has been awarded $10,500 compensation for unjustified dismissal after she was sacked amid allegations she filed dishonest expense claims.

Waiariki Institute of Technology chief executive Pim Borren has also been ordered to pay $6000 for obstructing the dispute settlement process by instructing staff not to assist Helen Manoharan while it investigated allegations against her.

Ms Manoharan was dismissed in June after questions were raised over six expense claims she signed off.

The claims were filled out by the nursing school's operations manager, Ann Robinson, but related to expenses Ms Manoharan incurred on behalf of the school.

That meant Ms Manoharan was signing off her own expenses without authorisation, contrary to the institute's procedures.

She was put on formal notice in May after the institute began investigating three claims totalling $581.41.

At a disciplinary meeting with Dr Borren the following month, Ms Manoharan said it had been a mistake and the claims were a one-off.

But following that meeting, three earlier expenses alleged to have been dishonestly signed off by Ms Manoharan, including a claim for $636, came to light.

Dr Borren dismissed both Ms Manoharan and Ms Robinson for serious misconduct on January 15.

The Employment Relations Authority last month found both women should have known correct procedures as senior managers.

But it found their dismissals were unjustified because Dr Borren acted ``unfairly and unreasonably'' by holding a disciplinary meeting while inquiries were ongoing.

He also failed to ask the women to give an explanation for his conclusion they had acted together.

The authority also found Dr Borren delayed or obstructed the disciplinary process by instructing other staff in an email not to assist Ms Manoharan.

It ordered both women be compensated.

Ms Robinson's compensation claim was settled in mediation with the institute, but mediation with Ms Manoharan failed and the matter was referred back to the authority.

In a finding released today, the authority ordered Dr Borren pay Ms Manoharan $3000 compensation and $7500 in damages.

It also ordered him to pay $6000 for obstructing the disciplinary process.

-APNZ