$14,800 to compensate bar worker

A South Auckland bar manager made to work 80-hour weeks, break up gang fights and who was verbally abused by her boss, has been awarded $14,800.

Gunjeet Kaur Sidhu worked for Rythm Hospitality Ltd from June 2017 till November last year.

As her work visa was attached to her employer, if she left her job she would also have to leave New Zealand. Sidhu was supposed to work up to 45 hours a week, according to her contract, but as she was the only worker with a duty manager’s certificate, she often worked double the hours.

Sidhu raised multiple health and safety concerns about not being able to take sick leave when she had an injured back and feeling unsafe at work.

Throughout her employment Sidhu dealt with gangs and had to call the police to break up fights.

On November 23, several fights started at the bar, which resulted in a pregnant woman being injured. Sidhu said she needed security and bar staff.

The next night Sidhu was the only one working at the bar and she texted Singh for more cover when two other staff did not show. At 9pm Singh replied saying he was at a boxing fight and could not leave.

As Sidhu left the bar for the night, Singh saw her and began following her in his car.

As he followed her he sent a barrage of verbally abusive text messages. Sidhu did not go back to work after that night.

Rythm Hospitality was ordered to pay Sidhu $11,250 as compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings; $2769 in lost wages, $720 as money lost as a result and $71 in filing costs.