Worker fired for having a seizure wins compensation

A worker sacked after suffering a seizure has been awarded more than $14,000 by the Employment Relations Authority. In June 2018, Ashley Wakeham was hospitalised two days after verbally agreeing to work for asbestos removal firm Pacific Decontamination Service Ltd, in return for a $100,000 salary. Wakeham returned to work on June 9 and his boss, Graeme Raymond, agreed to organise a driver to transport him to and from work sites. But on June 25 Raymond told Wakeham he was no longer needed as he was causing the firm ‘‘unforeseen stress’’ and extra expense. The authority said the process leading to the dismissal was defective as there was no prior investigation. It awarded Wakeham four weeks’ pay of $7692, wage arrears of $2333, and $4000 in compensation.