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Pharmacy workers sanctioned for not wearing masks fail in bonus complaints

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission rejected complaints from five pharmacy workers who had lost bonus payments after being sanctioned for not wearing face coverings. The workers had been recorded on CCTV without masks for 30 to 90 minutes during December 2020 incidents, and one for eight minutes in February 2021. The employer had issued final written warnings in all cases, with the first four sanctions downgraded to a first written warning on appeal, but the February 2021 warning was upheld. The workers argued they were front‑line staff and the sanctions were a "momentary lapse of concentration". The adjudicating officer found the employer's actions reasonable, noted the workers had admitted or not disputed the CCTV evidence, and stated that the use of CCTV data was outside the WRC's jurisdiction. The decision was published on 15 July 2022.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pharmacy workers sanctioned for not wearing masks fail in bonus complaints. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 30 December Incident
• 23 February 2021 Incident
• February 2021 Incident
• Christmas Eve 2020 Incident
• 2022-07-15 Publication

Why: Although the warnings had now expired, they were all at a financial loss because they became ineligible for bonus payments while the warnings were in force, their union submitted. CNI source report

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report