Big payday for 2degrees founder
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2degrees co-founder Tex Edwards is set to receive over $1 million from 2degrees after the Employment Relations Authority ruled it had wrongly reduced his salary
By Tom Pullar-Strecker | Wellington | Wednesday, 3 October, 2012 | 5 Comments
2degrees co-founder Tex Edwards is set to receive over $1 million from 2degrees after the Employment Relations Authority ruled it had wrongly reduced his salary from $350,000 to $200,000 in 2008.
The authority ordered 2degrees make up the salary, plus interest, and pay Edwards compensation for backtracking on an agreement to offer him share options as part of an employee share option scheme, as well as a $4000 penalty.
However, in a minor win for 2degrees, the authority said Edwards was entitled to only two months' notice, rather than the three year notice period Edwards claimed.
The Employment Court has yet to hold a hearing into the separate matter of whether Edwards was also unfairly restructured out of his job as "company strategist" earlier this year.
Edwards is on "gardening leave" ahead of the October 29 hearing, which could set a precedent as to whether employers have the right to restructure their businesses as they see fit.
2degrees had claimed Edwards "acquiesced" to the 2008 salary cut, but that was denied by Edwards who said he repeatedly refused to a sign along the dotted line despite at one point being ordered by then chief operating officer Sean Dean to "sign the f...ing agreement".
The authority said only one of several relevant documents relating to Edwards' terms and conditions was in fact signed. 2degrees spokesman Mat Bolland said the company would not comment.
Comments
Legendary
Bloody legendary ! 2D need to get it sorted! There's a weird kind of Karma in play when founders get the heave!
The next chapters will make this a mere curtain raiser! Anyone who's followed Tex over the last decade knows he can play the longest game!
Only time will tell but how will Eric's 'crowd sourced' strategy stack up against Tex's?
Best thing for 2D - give Tex what he's due, you're only making the lawyers rich
Tex ain't gardening, he's applying his strategic mind to this challenge - shame we need him disrupting another one! UFB maybe?
Posted by Anonymous at 13:58:41 on October 4, 2012
The next chapters will make this a mere curtain raiser! Anyone who's followed Tex over the last decade knows he can play the longest game!
Only time will tell but how will Eric's 'crowd sourced' strategy stack up against Tex's?
Best thing for 2D - give Tex what he's due, you're only making the lawyers rich
Tex ain't gardening, he's applying his strategic mind to this challenge - shame we need him disrupting another one! UFB maybe?
Posted by Anonymous at 13:58:41 on October 4, 2012
f...ing agreement
I reckon, what management style!
A good win for Tex, throughly justified.
Posted by Anonymous at 13:28:28 on October 4, 2012
A good win for Tex, throughly justified.
Posted by Anonymous at 13:28:28 on October 4, 2012
Great start to reward a legend
He deserves special mention in an honours board. Sir Tex in the near future.
Posted by Dean at 20:56:32 on October 3, 2012
Posted by Dean at 20:56:32 on October 3, 2012
Good on ya, Tex!
There's a long way to go in this saga, but at least Tex has won a moral victory at the outset. Let's never forget that his perserverance in the 2002-2008 period is the key reason why the cost of mobile phones in this country has come down to semi-sane levels.
Posted by Anonymous at 20:26:48 on October 3, 2012
Posted by Anonymous at 20:26:48 on October 3, 2012
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