Courts / Limerick / Report

€10k for hospital porter told he couldn't take time off

Date
2022-05-20

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

Michael Moore, a hospital porter who has worked at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group since 1986, was awarded €10,000 in compensation by the Workplace Relations Commission for the HSE's failure to allow him to take his full annual leave over a decade. Moore had built up a legal entitlement to more than five months of paid time off, but the HSE consistently denied his requests, citing a lack of cover. He kept a personal record of his hours and obtained a holiday log from HR. The Commission found that from 2005 to 2015 Moore received less than his entitlement each year, accumulating a deficit of about ten weeks by the time of the hearing in March. The adjudicating officer, Ewa Sobanska, ruled the complaint well‑founded, directing the hospital group to pay the compensation and acknowledging the gravity and sustained nature of the infringements. The award reflects the hospital's obligation to honour Moore's accrued leave entitlement.