Foul-mouthed farmer forced to pay up for unfair sacking

A farm manager sacked after a torrent of verbal abuse from his boss has been awarded more than $7000 in lost remuneration and compensation by the Employment Relations Authority.

Robert Neil was employed by Ivan Lammas on his Waikato dairy farm last November.

The ERA said the following month Mr Neil went to get the cows in for milking but discovered Mr Lammas had turned off the power to the electric fences.

The cows had broken into other paddocks where some became stuck up to their necks in bog.

He told Mr Lammas who criticised Mr Neil's ability to herd the cattle and called him a "queer c***". Later that day Mr Lammas told Mr Neil to leave the farm accommodation within two days.

On December 9, Mr Neil attempted to reconcile the relationship, but was told by Mr Lammas: "I've told you guys you're spoiled c***s. F*** off."

The authority found that Mr Neil was unjustifiably dismissed.

He was awarded $3846 in lost remuneration, $480 compensation for the loss of accommodation and $3000 compensation.

- NZPA