A restaurant owner who sacked an employee for not smiling enough has lost a case against them at the
Employment Relations Authority.
The waitress, Jacinta Highley, was dismissed from her role as waitress and duty manager at Cocopelli, a pizza restaurant and bar in Christchurch following a number of meetings with general manager Jeanette Francis, a part-owner of the restaurant.
Highley joined the business in October 2013 and two months later was called into a meeting with Francis where she was told she needed to smile more. Francis also told other members of staff to use the code word “miley” to remind the waitress to look happier. The ERA heard that this was used by them even when Highley felt she was smiling.
Two further meetings took place between the employer and the waitress and on one occasion Highley was told that if she didn’t smile more then her employment could be at risk of termination.
Francis claimed that there had been complaints from customers describing Highley as “unhappy” and “seemingly hating her job”.
At a further meeting the waitress was told that she had one last chance to improve or her employment would not continue past her trial period. Highley sold the ERA that she was very upset that she had not improved but that there were no other issues raised about her performance.
The ERA heard that the waitress was dismissed on 28 January 2014 and was told that her lack of smiling and failing to improve within the time scale set by the employer. Highley said that the experience had led to depression and an inability to trust others.
The ERA decided that although “Ms. Highley did not have the particular skill set required by the respondent” she was unjustifiably dismissed outside her trial period and that the actions were “not the action of any fair and reasonable employer.” Highley was awarded $11,250 in compensation and $3,600 for lost wages and holiday pay.
While employers are entitled to require a particular skill set from workers, this case shows that when issues are identified it is vital to ensure that workers are fully supported to adapt. The ERA felt that the waitress had been “ambushed” by her employer.
