Former Gloriavale residents were employees, not volunteers, court rules: Newshub

Caley Callahan | Newshub |

The Employment Court has ruled six former Gloriavale residents were employees – not volunteers – while living in the reclusive West Coast Christian community.

In a decision released on Thursday, Employment Court Chief Judge Christina Inglis said she had “no doubt” the plaintiffs “worked extremely hard, and under punishing conditions”.

“The plaintiffs were not volunteers when working on the teams. They expected to be rewarded for the work they undertook and they were rewarded for their work,” the decision said. “They are accordingly not excluded from the gateway to minimum entitlements and protections on this basis.

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