The Employment Relations Authority has ordered an employer to pay $44,000 to an employee after repeatedly failing to pay the employee at times over the course of his employment.

The employee worked for the employer for a period of 18 months. At various points during this employment relationship the employee brought up the fact that he was not being paid with his employer, who scarcely replied to the employee and did not remedy the issue.

At one point, the employee was owed 21 weeks’ worth of wages. He emailed his employer asking if he should sell the company van to recover these wages, to which the employer did not respond.

The employer signalled to the employee that the business was winding up, and that she would pay him what he was owed. After the employee responded to this email, highlighting how much he was owed in wage arrears, the employer never responded.

The employee filed a claim in the Authority to recover the wages that he was owed.

The Authority decided that the employer owed the employee $29,000 in unpaid wages and holiday pay.

The employer was ordered to pay this amount in full, as well as $15,000 in compensation for the hurt and humiliation caused by the lack of payment by the employer.

If there is confusion around your responsibilities as an employer, it pays to seek advice from a professional with experience in the area.

An employee with concerns about non-payment of wages and other entitlements should get initial advice from an experienced employment lawyer.

Leading law firms committed to helping clients cost-effectively will have a range of fixed-price Initial Consultations to suit most people’s needs in quickly learning what their options are.  At Rainey Collins we have an experienced team who can answer your questions and put you on the right track.

Alan Knowsley