Has your boss got a potty mouth? Have you got a potty mouth? A New Zealand based executive assistant has successfully complained to the local ERA (Employment Relations Authority) following Winton Capital’s chief executive’s language towards her.
His business-class seat on a long-haul flight from Dubai to Auckland did not meet his expectations.
“That was the worst f***ing flight I have ever f***ing taken, how the f*** did I end up in seat 29 between the bar and the toilet?” Chris said to Leah McCann, who was the receiver of the call.
Chris describes himself as ‘stormy and colourful’, and during the investigation meeting, he accepted that he sometimes swears when he needs to make his point (but he doesn’t swear ‘at’ people, he says).
Her complaint has subsequently resulted in Winton Capital being ordered to pay more than $100,000. Finding that McCann was constructively dismissed, Winton will have to pay McCann $74,846 in lost wages, compensation of $25,000 and a $1,000 penalty. They were also ordered to pay the Crown an amount of $4,000.
ERA determined that Winton Capital had no regard for employment law in New Zealand “when it chose to act in the ways it did” towards McCann. It further established that the company did not maintain a productive employment relationship with her, who was employed as the executive assistant for 10 months between 2022 and 2023.
McCann said that her job was jeopardised after Meehan swore at her and threatened her employment and that the company did not address her experience of distress and harm as a result of that behaviour. She also complained that his conduct was likely to continue and that she was pressured to resign while she was on sick leave.
Winton Capital denied McCann’s claims, indicating that there were performance issues with her work. They also told NZME that they were planning on appealing the ERA’s findings.
In a statement to NZME, they said: “Winton strongly disagrees with the findings of the Authority and is appealing all aspects of the determination,” General Manager, Corporate Services, Justine Hollows said.
Caption: Winton Capital chief executive and executive chairman Chris Meehan. Photo supplied via NewstalkZB.
