Firm that axed worker attending funeral to face regulator

A company that unfairly dismissed a worker who was abroad attending a close relative’s funeral has been referred to the Labour Inspectorate.

Following a number of recent decisions against BF7 Trading, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) determined further investigation of its labour practices was necessary.

BF7 Trading operates a labour-hire business under the trading name of Filled Roles.

In the most recent decision on September 19, ERA member Robin Arthur noted the company was involved in four other recent cases concerning claims by former employees. On 8 December 2017, the ERA ordered BF7 to pay more than $6500 in arrears of wages and holiday pay owed to its former Wellington regional client manager Anthony de Vries.

On 8 August 2018 the ERA ordered BF7 to pay builder Luke Brough $2366 for arrears of wages and holiday pay due for building services he carried out for a BF7 client.

On 14 August the ERA ordered BF7 to pay carpenter Sebastian Jenkins $2131 for arrears of wages and holiday pay. Also on 14 August 2018, the ERA found BF7 unjustifiably dismissed carpenter Elija Senice while he was at a funeral and ordered the company to pay him remedies totalling more than $19,000 along with wage arrears of $3121 and a penalty of $2000 for not providing wage and time records when requested. Another ERA decision, not mentioned by Arthur, was made on 17 September 2018, with BF7 ordered to pay carpenter Andrew Cederman $10,710 in lost wages, compensation of $15,000 and costs of $1500. In the latest decision made on 19 September, the ERA ordered the company to pay former employee An Quoc Do $1304.10 of wages he was owed.

Arthur said it was necessary to refer the matter to the Labour Inspectorate because the number of previous orders against the company may indicate wider problems in its compliance with employment standards.

Speaking to the Herald, Filled Roles general manager Roy Bishop conceded the company had made mistakes this year.

He said rapid growth at the business meant correct procedures weren’t always followed and the company was working to ensure these issues weren’t repeated in the future.

“We are fully committed to sorting it out,” Bishop said. “We went through some growing pains, but we have employed professionals to ensure these issues aren’t repeated.

Bishop added BF7 would be lodging appeals in regard to the Senice and Cederman cases.

We went through some growing pains, but we have employed professionals to ensure these issues aren’t repeated.

Roy Bishop