2022-05-11 · Galway
Bid for extra €72k in compensation due to inflation in construction costs is rejected
Conor Hynes, who was unfairly dismissed by Heneghan Premier Services Ltd after raising concerns about the lack of PPE for workers during the Covid‑19 pandemic, was awarded €24,840 by the Workplace Relations Commission. Hynes sought an additional €72,000 in compensation for inflation in construction costs, arguing that the price of building materials had risen after his dismissal and that this loss was directly linked to his protected disclosure. The Commission found no evidence that Hynes had committed to building a house before his dismissal and therefore excluded that loss from the decision. The company was not represented at the initial hearing but later joined by an HR consultant who submitted documentary evidence. The adjudicating officer ruled that, in the absence of a defence, the termination was unfair and awarded the €24,840, noting that any redundancy payment would be deducted from the compensation.