ERA Rejects 18-Year-Old Trainee's Reinstatement Bid After 2 Drunken Incidents in Company Vehicle
Updated
Updated · HRD America · Jul 10
ERA Rejects 18-Year-Old Trainee's Reinstatement Bid After 2 Drunken Incidents in Company Vehicle
1 articles · Updated · HRD America · Jul 10
Summary
Jeremy Lynch of New Zealand's Employment Relations Authority refused MHT's interim reinstatement, ruling unresolved safety risks and the balance of convenience favored the employer.
Two attempts to urinate from a moving sign-written company vehicle without a seatbelt during a September 2025 training trip underpinned the employer's serious-misconduct dismissal after MHT became heavily intoxicated.
Five months elapsed before MHT sought interim reinstatement, and the ERA said he had shown no evidence of trying to secure alternative on-the-job training despite arguing the employer was his only viable provider.
Treatment evidence showed progress but ongoing alcohol issues, and the Authority said it did not address whether the workplace safety concerns that destroyed trust and confidence were unlikely to recur.
MHT still cleared the low threshold for an arguable unjustified-dismissal and permanent-reinstatement case, with his substantive personal grievance now heading to a full investigation.