Courts / Ireland / Report

Davy ordered to pay €20k for discrimination against employee with epilepsy diagnosis

Date
2022-03-24
Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Summary

Davy Stockbrokers was ordered to pay an administrative worker €20,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission found the firm discriminated against her following her epilepsy diagnosis. The employee, Gemma Kiernan, had been told to resign within ten days of her diagnosis, rather than being allowed to complete a personal improvement plan. The commission noted that the HR manager's ultimatum was likely linked to her disability and that the performance improvement plan was altered after her diagnosis. The adjudicator found that the firm had not provided reasonable accommodation and that the resignation offer constituted a detriment. Consequently, Davy was required to compensate Kiernan for the direct discrimination she suffered, including the impact of her employment ending during lockdown. The award was intended to deter similar conduct.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Davy ordered to pay €20k for discrimination against employee with epilepsy diagnosis. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: Gemma Kiernan had complained against J&E Davy Ltd, trading as Davy Stockbrokers, under the Equal Status Act, alleging she was discriminated against directly because of her disability, got no reasonable accommodation and was victimised and harassed too. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request