A psychiatrist previously employed part-time in the University of Otago department of psychological medicine felt she had been placed in an ''invidious'' position, and had faced ''particularly dysfunctional'' circumstances.
The psychiatrist, Dr Lisa Turner, who was dismissed by the university in July 2013, made these comments on the first day of a hearing by the Employment Relations Authority in Dunedin yesterday. The hearing was before ERA member Christine Hickey.
Dr Turner, who is represented by barrister Warren Forster, is seeking compensation, and claims unjustified dismissal, unjustified disadvantage and discrimination over the job loss.
The university, represented by lawyer Barry Dorking, denies the claims.
A key element in the case is videotape-related teaching, which Dr Turner had successfully introduced some years earlier.
She had wished to reduce her amount of this teaching and some conflict ensued after the university required her to maintain her previous level. Dr Turner said she had been a co-operative, well-performing and loyal staff member during more than nine years' at the department.
She understood departmental head Prof Paul Glue had agreed to reduce her videotape teaching sessions, at least early in the academic year, but then felt concerned when she was directed to increase the teaching.
Dr Turner said Prof Glue had shouted at her at one point, had treated her in a ''completely unacceptable'' way, and had not listened to her concerns.
Prof Glue has denied shouting or treating her unfairly.
Dr Turner said to undertake all the video teaching suggested to her without resolving some wider matters would have made her situation ''untenable'', and could have led to her having to resign.
Ms Hickey noted Dr Turner had been warned to resume the video-related teaching, and had later been dismissed.
Dr Turner said she had experienced considerable humiliation and had sought the ERA hearing ''because of the adverse effect on my reputation''.
''I need to clear my name.''
She also thought it had been ''unfair'' the university had dismissed her when efforts had already begun to resolve matters by mediation.
Highlighted at yesterday's hearing were problems over communication, and confusion in some quarters about how the employment situation had deteriorated to the point of dismissal.
