Delivery driver forced to relieve himself into bottle, WRC hears

A delivery driver has brought a complaint of constructive dismissal against an Italian food importer to the Workplace Relations Commission following his resignation in August 2020. The complainant alleged he was required to undertake cross-country deliveries spanning up to ten hours daily from a warehouse in Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, to customers across Mayo, Sligo, Limerick, Clare and Kerry, working twelve to thirteen hours daily without adequate rest periods. He further claimed he was compelled to exceed speed limits to meet delivery targets and alleged he lacked proper facilities, forcing him to relieve himself into a bottle while in the van. The driver also alleged a workplace injury in October 2019 involving a sack of flour and claimed his employer discouraged him from seeking hospital treatment. He subsequently resigned citing health and safety concerns and pandemic-related fears over personal protective equipment provision. Cordelia Foods Ltd denied all allegations in full, contending the complainant never worked beyond contracted hours and received a pay rise in April 2020. Adjudicator Kevin Baneham closed the hearing to consider his decision.