The University of Otago is disappointed about a ruling it unjustifiably dismissed a staff member, but ''very pleased'' bullying allegations against a senior manager were not upheld.
The university was commenting on an Employment Relations Authority finding this week that former head of marketing services Dr Kerry Kirkland was unjustifiably dismissed and unjustifiably disadvantaged by the university.
ERA member David Appleton ordered the university to pay $12,465.75 for lost wages and emotional damage, after reducing damages by 25% due to Dr Kirkland's contribution to the outcome.
The finding was based on the university's failure to follow Dr Kirkland's wish for it to investigate the substance of complaints of rudeness made against her.
Human resources director Kevin Seales said in a statement the university was ''very pleased'' the ERA rejected Dr Kirkland's claim she had been bullied at work by marketing and communications division director Virginia Nicholls.
Ms Nicholls actions were ''those of a fair and reasonable manager'' and the ERA upheld none of the complaints against her, Mr Seales said.
The university felt the ERA's decision was contradictory with its finding that a number of people complained about her being rude.
Mr Appleton's statements that Dr Kirkland should ''reasonably have been expected to have been able to communicate with her colleagues without causing offence'' and she ''clearly lacked the ability to conceive what it was about her behaviour that caused offence'' were also contradictory to the final decision, Mr Seales said.
''From the university's perspective, we do not expect to have to remind educated and intelligent people they should not be rude to each other, or have to explain to them what constitutes respectful behaviour towards colleagues.''
Mr Seales pointed out that the ERA reduced the damages the university had to pay because of Dr Kirkland's contribution to the situation.
''The authority ... supported the university's view that it was not appropriate for Dr Kirkland to secretly record conversations with Ms Nicholls, which the authority considered to be 'a blameworthy action which exacerbated the breakdown of the relationship between Dr Kirkland and Ms Nicholls when Ms Nicholls found out'.''
He also pointed out Dr Kirkland's legal representative took an ''openly litigious'' approach, which meant the university could ''be forgiven for not clearly grasping what Dr Kirkland wanted''.
• An article published yesterday said the university did not respond to a request for comment. The university's statement, sent by email to the Otago Daily Times at 5.43pm on Monday, did not arrive.