Cafe owner seeks funds for employment help

A cafe owner who was told to pay $9000 to a worker who worked a day-long ‘‘unpaid trial’’ has set up a Givealittle page, hoping to found an organisation to help other businesses dealing with employment disputes.

Helen Mawhinney completed a day’s work, from 8am until 4pm, at a Wellington cafe run by Sfizio Ltd.

But she was told at the end of the shift that it was an unpaid trial. She declined a job offer and demanded to be paid.

The Employment Relations Authority awarded her $7000 in compensation for the distress caused, $119 in wages for the day worked and $1890 in lieu of four weeks’ notice.

In an email to Mawhinney, Sfizio Ltd director Curtis Gregorash apologised for the misunderstanding and said the company did not consider her an employee the day she worked and did not pay for trials.

During the Employment Relations Authority’s hearing, Gregorash accepted that arrangements around Mawhinney’s attendance at the cafe on August 4 had not been recorded in writing.

Gregorash has now started a page on fundraising site Givealittle, seeking funds for a ‘‘small business support group’’.

‘‘The Employment Relations Authority is out of control,’’ the page says.

‘‘All New Zealand small businesses are at risk of its outrageous decisions. We need to come together and form a support group so that we can fight the outrageous ERA.

‘‘The money will be used to establish a non-profit organisation with independent directors, who will oversee the contracting out of legal and other employment support for small business owners at a bulk discount.

‘‘Small business owners will then be able to contact the organisation for assistance in dealing with employment relationship issues.’’

Gregorash said the organisation would run on a subscription basis to provide legal and support services.