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Paramedics who returned to work in pandemic response hit with pay deductions, WRC hears

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission heard that paramedic Dave Lanigan, who returned to work on Covid‑19 testing after injury leave, was threatened with a nearly €5,000 deduction by the HSE to recover a payroll error. Lanigan disputes the deduction's legality and claims entitlement to the money. He alleges he was not informed of changes to his working hours that would affect his shift allowance. The HSE argues the National Ambulance Service is not a legal entity and that the complaint is outside the WRC's jurisdiction because the disputed sum has not yet been deducted and the complaint was filed too late. Lanigan says he was offered a lump‑sum deduction or an instalment plan, chose the latter, and tried to lodge a grievance. The HSE's solicitor contends the shift allowance was not a contractual entitlement, while the National Ambulance Service HR manager says the bonus was paid in error to ten paramedics, including Lanigan.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Paramedics who returned to work in pandemic response hit with pay deductions, WRC hears. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• April 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 2021 Other
• February 2021 Other
• 2022-07-28 Publication

Why: He said he tried to raise a grievance about it: "I said, this is what I can afford because if it's taken out all at once it's eight weeks with no salary, which is unaffordable for anybody," Mr Lanigan told the tribunal. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

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Read the original CNI report