The Employment Relations Authority has ruled in favour of a farm worker who was sacked for bringing a dog to work.

Phil Stewart worked on a property owned by David Lee-Jones and Cathy Douglas in Manawatu-Whanganui for a month, on a contract that was renewed every two weeks.

The ERA found Stewart knew a fulltime position would be available in coming months and believed his job was a trial period before that role became available.

Douglas told him three weeks after he started work his contract wouldn't be renewed, because he brought a new dog on to the farm without consultation.

Stewart says Douglas said his contract was not being renewed and "you may as well spend the next few days packing up".

Stewart asked why, and Douglas replied: "I didn't like the way you brought a new animal on the farm without consulting me."

Stewart said he had several dogs on the farm and was never told he couldn't bring extra dogs.

He brought a claim of unjustified dismissal to the ERA.

Douglas said she did have a problem with Stewart's dogs, but this wasn't why his employment was ended.

She said he was a casual worker and the employment was always going to be ended at some point.

The ERA awarded Stewart $7705.