Employment Court finds Gloriavale leavers employees

11th May 2022 By Staff Reporter | news@foodticker.co.nz | @foodtickernz

The Employment Court has found three former Gloriavale commune members on the West Coast were employees and not volunteers at the registered charity, which has F&B ventures.

A decision from the court found the three plaintiffs were employed from age six until they left the West Coast Christian community.

The Gloriavale Christian Community’s businesses include dairying, deer and sheep farms, as well as apiaries. Honey is sold under the Forest Gold brand, and bee pollen and deer velvet are ingredients in health supplements and skincare creams marketed by Pure Vitality.

It recently lost a contract to make confectionery Moo Chews after a backlash from distributors and consumers when they learned a Gloriavale factory made the snack.