Courts / Ireland / Report

Sales exec sacked over bullying allegations receives record €329k award

Summary

A sales executive has been awarded over €329,000 for unfair dismissal after being sacked without a formal warning over bullying allegations. The award, revealed in a judgement published this morning, is understood to be the largest ever made by the Workplace Relations Commission. The case was heard at the appeal stage. The former sales executive submitted complaints in March 2021 under the Unfair Dismissals Act and the Payment of Wages Act against the company. The complainant, who had worked for the firm since December 2016 and was promoted to enterprise account executive in April 2019, was dismissed in September 2019 on the grounds of serious misconduct following bullying allegations. The adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, found the dismissal to be both substantively and procedurally unfair. The company argued that the complainant was dismissed following a full and fair investigatory process and appeal process, citing bullying of his manager and a colleague. The complainant's legal representative, Daniel Johnson, argued that the investigation was not properly isolated from the disciplinary process and that the complainant was not afforded the opportunity to cross-examine the individuals who made allegations against him. The adjudicating officer noted procedural shortcomings in the investigation and disciplinary process and found that the complainant had been treated without decency, humanity, and dignity. The matter was adjourned at the appeal stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sales exec sacked over bullying allegations receives record €329k award. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• March 2021 Other
• December 2016 Other
• April 2019 Other
• May 2019 Incident
• 15 May Hearing Or Sentence
• June 2019 Other
• 6 June Incident
• 6 September 2019 Other
• 17 September 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 7 May Incident
• 17 July 2021 Other
• 2022-05-10 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal

Read the original CNI report