Ryan Anderson / Staff
The Wairarapa nurse was fired shortly after posting an anti-vax and “non-professional” comment on Facebook. (File photo)
Allegations of unfair dismissal of Wairarapa nurses after posting an anti-vax message “professionally inappropriate” on Facebook were knocked back by the Employment Relations Agency (ERA).
Amanda Turner, a registered palliative care nurse, posted that her employer, the Wailarapa District Health Commission, considered the Covid-19 vaccination issue and the “comparative religious issue” to be inappropriate material. I was dismissed in April 2021.
According to the ERA summary, Turner’s nurse manager said, “Vaccination prevention information / advice on her Facebook account and government actions to protect the community from Covids that could affect staff vaccination. Concerns have been raised about posting “criticisms against”.
Another of Turner’s social media comments included “a derogatory and general comment about the religious affiliation of New Zealand’s mass sector.”
read more:
* Deputy Mayor Christchurch makes a shocking decision to leave public life
* Pair ordered to remove offensive material after “deadnaming” Hokitika businessman
* “My daughter will still be alive”: 20 years old died of sepsis after repeated failures
ERA did not elaborate further on the nature of these derogatory comments.
Turner was paid off when social media posts caught the attention of DHB in March. As a result of the investigation, her dismissal was confirmed on April 23.
Turner filed a personal complaint on May 5, claiming that he was “discriminated against, unfairly dismissed, and unfairly disadvantaged.”
David Beck, a member of ERA, concluded that DHB was prepared to dismiss Turner’s actions and acted in a “fair and rational” manner.
Beck said in April at the first meeting between Turner, the representative of the New Zealand nurse organization, and the representative of DHB, he was asked if he understood why the post was considered inappropriate.
He reviewed the investigation and concluded that Turner never took ownership of “the objectively offensive nature of the posts she made.”
“When I heard the evidence during the investigative meeting, I had a hard time concluding that Ms. Turner had real insight into the harm that her post could cause.”
“From Ms. Turner’s answers and evidence, she was fixed about who revealed the post, rather than providing insight into the professionally inappropriate nature of the post and the dangerous circumstances in which she was placed. It was clear. “
Beck also said Turner did not admit that her position and position in the community made her particular post on Covid-19 vaccination inappropriate.
thing
Immunologist Dr. Maia Brewerton discusses the side effects of Covid-19 vaccination in a discussion with Roxie Mohebbi about Stuff’s Whole Truth project.
“For example, one post describes it as a” murder vaccine. ” “
“Turner’s problem is that he failed to coordinate the potential harm of Facebook posts with his professional duties and didn’t pay attention to his impact on his position in the community.”
According to Beck, Turner knows DHB’s social media policy, but thinks it’s not as good as Facebook’s private posts.
“Turner’s suggestion that her Facebook post is private will not be scrutinized because she shares it with up to 200 people. No complaints would have occurred. DHB. “
Beck said there is a “significant risk” that could harm the reputation of DHB if her post was seen by more people, including the local community.