An Irish carpenter who was called "a thieving Irish bastard" and a "dumb Irish bastard" while on the job has won more than $13,000 after he complained to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).
Michael Corbett, from Northern Ireland, was employed by Christchurch's UDP Shopfitters last year.
But he claims he was assaulted and injured at work and was also constructively dismissed and suffered at work because he was bullied and abused, some of which was racial.
He told the ERA other workers called him "f***ing Irish", a "thieving Irish bastard" and a "dumb Irish bastard".
He also objected to being called Corby, rather than Michael, and said he did not swear or engage in abusive work banter.
However, another worker said everybody took part in the banter, and at one stage Mr Corbett had once called him a "fat c**t", which Mr Corbett denied.
UDP said Mr Corbett had abandoned the job and denied knowing about any racial abuse. It also said he took an equal part in banter with the others which was "no worse than the sort that normally takes place amongst many tradesmen".
ERA member David Appleton, in his decision released on Wednesday, found Mr Corbett had been subject to racial abuse and UDP had not properly investigated the assault complaint.
While he found Mr Corbett was not actively dismissed, Mr Appleton said UDP had unjustifiably and constructively dismissed Mr Corbett by its actions and failures.
He ordered UDP pay Mr Corbett $10,000 for his humiliation, loss of dignity and injured feelings, as well as $3161 for lost wages before he found a new job.
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