Worker claimed suicide risk, racism and whistleblower protection but council's documentation won
A New Zealand council fired a project manager for damaging client relationships despite mental health struggles and whistleblower claims, and the authority upheld the dismissal.
Michael Reddy seemed like a strong hire when Hamilton City Council brought him on as a project manager in August 2019. He had the credentials, the technical skills, and the project management expertise the facilities team needed. But within months, the complaints started rolling in.
Museum staff said he was rude. Library managers called him confrontational. Contractors described his communication style as aggressive and uncooperative. During a roof replacement project at Waikato Museum, things got so tense that work had to stop. The facilities manager later said Reddy's approach caused a significant breakdown in relationships with contractors.
The council didn't rush to discipline. Instead, management tried to help. They provided direct feedback, brought in an external professional coach, and gave ongoing guidance through supervisors.
By June 2020, the complaints were more specific. The manager of one contracting firm said Reddy had a bullying communication style and used abusive language. A client said he demanded an emergency plan in a confrontational tone and was bullying the contractors on site.
Then Reddy flipped the script. In July 2020, he met with HR to say he was the one being bullied. He...
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