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UNDT/2012/078, Perez-Soto

UNAT Held or UNDT Pronouncements

The Respondent was required to act in the best interests of the Organization, when reassigning the Applicant, and it was principally for the Respondent as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Organization, pursuant to art. 97 of the United Nations Charter, to define what those interests were in the context of the administration of the Organization Outcome: For respondent (merits).

Decision Contested or Judgment Appealed

Reassignment.

Legal Principle(s)

Bad faith. It is for the Applicant who raises such allegations of ulterior motives to prove them. Consultations. As a matter of good staff relations and courtesy, it would be usual for a manager to discuss the possibility of reassignment with a staff member before making the final decision; however, there is no requirement in the relevant legal instruments for the Respondent to consult a staff member about a proposed reassignment. Delegation of authority. The decision to transfer the Applicant was taken by the appropriate person, namely the USG for Management. Decision not taken in the best interests of the Organization. Under former regulation 1.2(c), the Respondent had a broad discretion to assign any staff member to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations. Such discretion was not unfettered.

Outcome
Judgment entered for Applicant in full or in part

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