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Alden Williams / Stuff
Christchurch preschool teacher Jane Barnes left the profession after 23 years of being bullied at work.
Five and a half years after she reported being bullied by her boss, a Christchurch preschool teacher will receive more than $ 100,000 in ignored sick leave.
Jane Barnes worked at Kidsfirst Kindergartens MacFarlane Park in Shirley for 23 years, but a new manager joined in 2014 and her employment relationship deteriorated.
Barnes initially brushed aside the negative comments made to him, but they became “more personal, more aggressive and more threatening,” he said at a Labor Court hearing in August.
In April 2015, her doctor diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which caused anxiety, insomnia, and occasional panic attacks.
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She took sick leave and did not return to school. In April 2018, his contract for medical disability was terminated.
Barnes took his case to the Labor Relations Authority in April 2019 and it was found that there was evidence of a link between the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, the allegations of bullying, and the “subsequent unjustified actions” by his employer, Canterbury Westland Kindergarten. Association, when dealing with the complaint.
The two-day hearing concluded that Barnes had been “unreasonably disadvantaged” and received compensation of $ 30,000.
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He continued with the matter and his case was heard by Chief Judge Christina Inglis in Christchurch District Court in August.
Barnes’ advocate Allan Halse of CultureSafe NZ argued that she was entitled to two years of ignored sick leave.
However, Karyn Willetts, human resources manager for the Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association, told the court that Barnes met the test for an award of disregarded sick leave, but only for a period of three months.
The findings, released this week, concluded that Barnes was entitled to two years of ignored sick leave.
Based on Barnes’ salary at the time, he is expected to receive about $ 115,000.
The Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association was also ordered to pay $ 9,170 for the costs it incurred.
Alden Williams / Stuff
Jane Barnes discusses her case with CultureSafe NZ advocate Maryline Suchley.
Barnes told Stuff that while the money “sounds great,” he will eventually run out of money.
“Two years of sick leave in no way makes up for the five and a half years of income I would have had thus far, and would continue to have until retirement, if I hadn’t been harassed,” he said.
“The $ 30,000 emotional damage relief barely covered the retirement arrears I incurred because I was unable to withdraw from the plan. I also had to cover the employer’s contribution, less one year ”.
Halse said the decision to give Barnes the full two years of discretionary sick leave was “massive.”
“We believe that the education sector, the worst workplace bullying sector in New Zealand, will be shaken by this precedent.”
