In a recent decision, the Employment Court of New Zealand has mandated that the University of Auckland compensate Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles with NZ$20,000 for the public harassment she endured over her COVID-19 pandemic commentary. The court found that the university breached its contractual obligations to protect Professor Wiles’ health and safety.
The court’s judgment, delivered by Judge J C Holden, referred to a series of physical confrontations and sustained harassment faced by Wiles between 2020 and 2022. These incidents included the public disclosure of her home address and other personal details, commonly known as ‘doxing.’ More details on the case can be found in the court’s decision.
Judge Holden determined that while the University of Auckland made efforts to comply within its health and safety framework, it failed to provide adequate protection and support to Wiles. This failure resulted in increased distress for the professor. The decision also noted that the university failed to meet its statutory duties of good faith and the responsibilities required of a “good employer” under the Employment Relations Act 2000.
The judge, however, considered academic freedom only tangentially engaged, stating that the university’s actions did not suppress new ideas or controversial opinions. Given the University’s ongoing efforts to improve its responses to employment harassment, no formal recommendations for further action were made at this time.
For additional context and a more detailed exploration of the case, refer to the original article on JURIST.