Manager claims work far exceeded contract but employer disputes hours
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) recently dealt with a case involving a farm manager who claimed he was unjustifiably disadvantaged by being required to work significantly more hours than his contract specified, raising important questions about employer obligations when job demands exceed agreed terms.
The worker argued that despite his 45-hour weekly contract, the practical realities of managing a hunting lodge business required him to work thousands of additional hours without pay.
He maintained that his employer failed to provide adequate support or address his concerns about excessive workload, ultimately forcing him to resign from what he described as his "dream job."
The employer defended against the claims, arguing that the worker had control over his workload through booking management responsibilities and was not required to work the additional hours he claimed. The company maintained that any extra work was the worker's choice and that they had provided appropriate support throughout the employment relationship.
The worker had been employed as a farm manager at a Central North Island property from February 2021 until March 2024. His role included general farm duties as well as organising clients for the hunting lodge business, which represented 30 percent of his responsibilities.
The employment agreement specified that "the employee will work...
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