Ex-Kaizuka staffer still unpaid
A woman awarded $30,000 after being wrongfully dismissed by her now-liquidated Christchurch employer is yet to see a cent four months after the ruling.
Kaizuka Limited, which traded as Kaizuka Eatery and Garden Bar, went into liquidation on February 29, owing creditors $497,000. A large portion of the sum was owed to the shareholders, who were ‘‘propping up’’ the company through advances.
Employees were owed about $45,000, a figure inclusive of a $30,000 payout to Evelyn Michalewska, who was wrongfully sacked in April 2014 for speaking to other staff about her dream of opening her own cafe. The Employment Relations Authority ruled she was unjustifiably dismissed. On Thursday Michalewska said she ‘‘didn’t get a cent’’ of the money Kaizuka had been ordered to pay.
Liquidator Grant Reynolds said it was ‘‘unlikely’’ Michalewska, who is listed as a creditor, would be paid. ‘‘The business’ assets are few and far between,’’ he said.
Michalewska had not opened her own cafe, saying it was ‘‘always a dream’’.
‘‘[It is] sad that this had to happen, not just me waiting to be paid from them but all the staff members that have lost their jobs, the suppliers that put their trust in Kaizuka not knowing they will never get paid,’’ she said.
Reynolds said a court appeal against the authority’s ruling would not go ahead.
‘‘The appeal was called in court earlier this week, but there’s no point Kaizuka continuing with that appeal because it hasn’t got the money to fund it.
‘‘I’ve discontinued proceedings,’’ he said.
Kaizuka Limited co-owner Dwayne Vaughan said: ‘‘All I’ve got to say is that we were fully intending to appeal the decision’’.
He maintained Michalewska had not been dismissed for talking about starting her own cafe.
‘‘She was dismissed because she tried to employ people.’’
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