HRINZ decides threats & intimidation are better than talking first. Personally costing us thousands, any help would be appreciated.
Auckland
When there is a workplace issue, every good HR person knows that the first step is sitting down and talking and trying to resolve it positively.
After the announcement of a new chartered HR organisation, the first step HRINZ took was to send a threatening letter from their Barrister. Then even when we complied with their cease-and-desist demands - they have continued with the case and are taking us to the High Court.
In our view this is bullying and intimidation. Even worse is that it's from an HR professional body who should be working to promote great HR leadership.
Elephant is only one of the parties HRINZ are suing. They are also suing Angela Atkins, Fraser Atkins and Lisa Hunter personally. While Elephant will pay its portion of the ever growing legal bill, Angela, Fraser and Lisa would like to ask for your help defending themselves against a High Court case that never had to happen.
So far our legal bill is nearing $20,000 and could double by the time both the injunction for us to change the name of the new entity (which we've already changed) is heard in February and the full case is heard later in the year.
For a rundown of the facts of the case have a read of Angela's blog at https://hrmanagementbites.wordpress.com/ She comments on how stressful, disappointing and upsetting this has been - especially as she wasn't even one of the founders of the new entity and has volunteered enormous amounts of her time to HRINZ in the last few years. She says that HRINZ found an awesome way to say thank you.
Fraser cannot believe that in NZ anyone can take unsubstantiated legal action against individuals as a bullying tactic, which costs tens of thousands to defend yourself against and even if you win, you will not get awarded back to you. He has also seen how upsetting and stressful HRINZ's behaviour has been for Angela and Lisa - and that makes him very angry.
Lisa says "I've found the actions of HRINZ very upsetting and stressful for me and my family. Personally, I've put in a lot of time volunteering with HRINZ through SIGs and mentoring and in 2013 was made an Associate Fellow to recognise this effort, and then to be treated in such an intimidating way has been upsetting to say the least. Our family is currently dealing with a close family member with a terminal illness and having to deal with all the legal responses (not to mention the escalating legal costs) to a case where we agreed to change the name, but HRINZ wouldn't stop, has added real stress during times where I really needed to focus on hospitals, treatments and spending precious time with my family."
If you agree HRINZs actions are unacceptable and would like to help us with our enormous personal legal bills - any amount would be most appreciated.
I'm involved as I'm one of the four parties being taken to the High Court, along with Elephant (the company)Lisa Hunter and Fraser and am having to pay enormous legal costs.
High Court outcome from last week 4 March 2015
Hi all,
We had our first High Court hearing last week. HRINZ chose not to go ahead with an interim injunction, but instead agreed to the undertaking that we gave them nearly 5 months ago not to use the term CHRI.
Yes, $20K of our money and probably around $20K of HRINZ members' fees to agree to what we'd already said we'd do in October.
As they still haven't contacted us to discuss this in person, it looks like we'll be back in the High Court for the full case in a few months.
We just wanted to say a huge thank you for all for the money you've donated so far, and for all your emails and messages of support. They really are keeping our spirits up.
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