Courts / Monaghan / Report

Covid protocol failure akin to 'workplace assault', WRC rules

Date
2022-06-27
Stage
Charge Or Pretrial
Primary locality
Monaghan
County
Monaghan

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission has dismissed a complaint of unfair dismissal brought by a direct provision centre worker in Monaghan. The adjudicating officer found that Siarhei Klimasheuski was guilty of gross misconduct akin to workplace assault when he failed to comply with Covid-19 safety protocols at a facility operated by Tattonward Ltd in April 2020. The decision, published in June 2022, concluded that Mr Klimasheuski did not consistently wear required personal protective equipment, failed to sanitise surfaces, and did not enforce social distancing measures among residents despite being briefed on procedures in both English and Russian. Although the adjudicator identified significant defects in the dismissal process, including procedural irregularities and lack of a formal disciplinary hearing, she found the evidence of company witnesses more credible and determined the termination was not unfair. The breaches posed genuine infection control risks during the pandemic's early stages.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Covid protocol failure akin to 'workplace assault', WRC rules. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

Why: "I am satisfied that these actions were acts of gross misconduct akin to a workplace assault on a colleague or resident, because in a way that is exactly what it was," she wrote. CNI source report

Case subjects

Siarhei Klimasheuski

Applicant

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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