Golf Coach Stood Down for Not Being Vaccinated Wins Employment Case
January 11, 2023
PHOTO: NZ Herald File
A golf coach who was “humiliated” after being dismissed for not getting the Covid vaccine will receive more than $15,000 from his former employer after successfully arguing his dismissal was unjustified.
Benjamin Harwood had worked for Whangamatā Golf Club Incorporated for a little over a year when he was dismissed in December 2021 following the club’s “no jab, no play” policy.
Harwood took the club to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), arguing that the policy was “unreasonable and unfair” and failed to fairly consider alternatives to dismissal.
The club disputed this and said it went through a fair consultation process with Harwood about the vaccination policy and engaged with him regarding the consequences of his “non-compliance”.
owever, in a recently-released decision, the ERA has ruled in Harwood’s favour.