By Emma Brannam
Security guard Lydia Moaete spoke out against her employer pressuring staff to cheat so that they would complete NZQA training modules. She has been sacked.
"My family raised me to be an honest and upfront person," Ms Moaete says.
Allied had sent staff an email saying ‘here's what you need to do’ and a copy of suggested answers telling them to put them into their own words. Ms Moeate felt it was cheating so she complained.
"I was told that if I didn't complete the booklets I won't have a job," she says.
In desperation she went to her union.
"The first thing we thought was that this was outrageous, knowing that the company would not properly train their guards and just give them their answers was just wrong," says Barry Sutherland, Unite Union Security Organiser.
Unite has since discovered the problem is widespread and is currently investigating other security companies.
"You'd expect security officers to be honest and including the bosses, it's what the job entails, being honest, reliable, trustworthy. People put a lot of faith and trust into these security officers," says Mr Sutherland.
Allied Security was investigated by the body that oversees training for the security industry. As a result, it's written to all security firms reminding them of their obligations.
Allied wouldn't talk on camera. In a written statement it told 3 News that it couldn't comment at this stage of the employment process.
But one thing is clear. As Lydia has spoken to the media, she no longer has a job.
In a letter to Unite earlier this week, Allied's boss was adamant that Moeate had to go - citing a "complete breakdown of trust and confidence in her as an employee".
Once an NZQA qualification is completed, a company can claim taxpayer subsidies for providing the training. Unite says that's wrong and it's companies who should pay for their employee’s training.
3 News