The "paying it forward" argument didn't help his employment
A marine painter's weekend favour to a fellow Freemason cost him his job after he was caught on camera wearing his employer's uniform.
Jason Blankenaar worked for Boatspray Limited, a boat maintenance business in Auckland's Half Moon Bay Marina. In November 2024, a mutual acquaintance connected him with Maxwell Mullin, who needed advice on repainting his boat. What started as guidance quickly turned into hands-on weekend work that would end his employment.
The situation unraveled on November 28, 2024, when Boatspray's manager Brian Kent received an unexpected email from the marina's hardstand manager. The message noted that Boatspray staff had been spotted working in the marina on weekends and reminded them to stay environmentally conscious. Kent was baffled since he hadn't authorized any after-hours work.
After reviewing CCTV footage from the marina, Kent identified Blankenaar working on Mullin's boat. On some occasions, he was wearing a shirt with the Boatspray logo.
When confronted on December 9, 2024, Blankenaar explained he was helping a fellow Freemason and insisted it wasn't actually work because he refused payment. He told managers he was "paying it forward for the Freemasons" and that Freemasons "do not deal in money," even offering to let them check his bank accounts.
The problem ran deeper than Blankenaar realized. Mullin had been a Boatspray customer for years, with the company completing ten previous jobs on his vessel. In December 2020, Kent had even provided Mullin with a quote to repaint the exact areas Blankenaar was now helping him tackle.
Boatspray suspended Blankenaar and called him back for a formal meeting on December 12, 2024. He brought a letter from Mullin confirming the work details, but the letter revealed something uncomfortable: contrary to Blankenaar's claims of helping a friend, Mullin stated they had only met because he needed boat painting assistance.
The company terminated Blankenaar immediately, citing serious misconduct. His employment agreement explicitly prohibited involvement in any business conflicting with Boatspray's operations without prior written consent.
Blankenaar challenged the dismissal before New Zealand's Employment Relations Authority, arguing he hadn't breached his contract since the work was unpaid and done to gain experience with unfamiliar techniques.
The Authority wasn't persuaded. Member Eleanor Robinson found that payment isn't limited to cash transactions. The tribunal noted Blankenaar himself had described the arrangement as "paying it forward for the Freemasons," which the Authority determined "would constitute a non-financial benefit."
The decision, issued February 4, 2026, also pointed out that Blankenaar's employment agreement required him to "represent and promote Boatspray's services and quality as the leading marine industry provider of its type at all times." Working on a former customer's boat without informing management violated that obligation.
Robinson acknowledged some process concerns, including that the termination letter appeared to be drafted before the final meeting. However, the Authority found these were minor defects that didn't result in unfair treatment, particularly given Boatspray's status as a small employer with six to twelve staff.
The Authority ultimately ruled the dismissal was justified, finding that Blankenaar's actions "resulted in Boatspray losing trust and confidence in him as an employee."
For people managing teams with non-compete and conflict of interest clauses, the case demonstrates that restrictions apply regardless of whether money changes hands. The absence of payment doesn't eliminate the breach when employees work for customers or potential customers, especially when they've been explicitly warned about such activities.
