Butcher fairly sacked for repackaging meat - ERA
An Auckland supermarket manager was sacked after he rewrapped meat and slapped new "best before" dates on the packages.
A former meat manager at an Auckland Countdown supermarket has lost an appeal against his dismissal after being caught repackaging meat with new "best before" dates.
Michael Dick was dismissed from Countdown Westgate in September 2010.
He admitted unwrapping packs of chicken which had reached their best before date, and rewrapping them with new labels and a new date of the following day.
Mr Dick did the same thing with packs of beef products but he also minced the contents before rewrapping them with new best before dates.
He also altered the recorded dollar amount of "wasted product" without telling anyone.
Mr Dick defended his actions, saying "regrading" beef products was normal, and in the past people had been warned for the practice but not dismissed unless they offended again.
He said repackaging meat was a widespread practice, and it would have been more appropriate for him to be warned rather than dismissed.
However, the Employment Relations Authority found the supermarket's owner, Progressive Enterprises, was justified in dismissing him, saying it was what "a fair and reasonable employer" would have done.
In her ruling, ERA member Rosemary Monaghan said Mr Dick's actions constituted serious misconduct, and even if the practice of repackaging meat was widespread, as manager of the department he should have stopped it.
Caleb Allison
Thu, 03 May 2012
Thu, 03 May 2012
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Butcher fairly sacked for repackaging meat - ERA
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