A hotel chef has been awarded $12,000 after he was unfairly dismissed from the Bealey Hotel, near Arthur's Pass, in August last year. (File photo)

Simmering tension between a head chef and his employer's daughter's partner reached boiling point when the pair fought over cooking a steak.

A recently released decision from the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) found Kenneth Heagren, a chef at the Bealey Hotel near Arthur's Pass, was unjustifiably dismissed from his employment during the aftermath of the spat.

He was awarded over $12,000 in lost wages, humiliation and loss of dignity.

Heagren started working for Hard Left Limited, the company that owns and operates the hotel, in August 2016. The relationship between Heagren and his fellow chef – the partner of his employer's daughter – quickly soured.

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The ERA decision said Heagren found him "obstructive to changes that he wanted to make to the menu" and "uncooperative". The tension came to a head when he intervened in cooking a steak Heagren prepared.

Heagren said the tense relationship in the kitchen meant it was impossible for him to do his job and he would prefer the pair did not work together until it had been resolved. A meeting with his managers, Debby and Marshall Deaker, was arranged.

On November 27, Heagren and the Deakers met in the restaurant. Heagren said he was immediately told "things were not working out and that he should look for another job.

"The Deakers felt matters had gone too far and they wanted a fresh start with a new chef."

The decision said the Deakers believed Heagren gave them an ultimatum – get rid of their daughter's partner or he would leave.

After a "period of awkwardness and silence", Heagren said he would go and the conversation turned to compensation, Debby Deaker said. They agreed to pay him four weeks' wages.

The replacement chef arrived a week later and Heagren was told he could finish at lunch time.

ERA member Helen Doyle found there was no formal, mutual agreement to end the employment, and Heagren had not been advised of the concerns his employers had about the quality of his meals.

He was also not informed that failure to improve may result in termination, Doyle said.

Doyle ordered Hard Left Limited to reimburse Heagren $5288 in lost wages and pay $7000 for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings.

Heagren's claim for reimbursement of off-site accommodation costs while he worked at the hotel was denied.