Courts / Galway / Report

Sexually harassed care worker told she 'wasn't entitled' to report

Date
2022-12-13

Stage
Hearing Or Decision

Primary locality
Galway

County
Galway

Summary

In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, Shannon Holland, a care worker at Ability West, alleged sexual harassment by a senior colleague. The complaint, lodged in December 2019, led to the senior employee's dismissal in 2020 after investigations found "adverse findings" against him. The investigation report, completed six and a half months after the complaint, confirmed Holland's allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct, including working under the influence of alcohol and scheduling himself to work alone with a female colleague, Ms Y. Holland was told she was not entitled to a copy of the final report, although the senior employee received one. The HR director explained that the report was shared with Holland verbally but not in written form, citing the ongoing disciplinary process. The case remains pending a decision from the adjudicating officer.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Sexually harassed care worker told she 'wasn't entitled' to report. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
29 April Hearing Or Sentence
May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
8 June 2020 Other
8 June Other
2022-12-13 Publication

Why: Ability West's then-HR director, who cannot be named because of a direction by the adjudicating officer, gave evidence of appointing an experienced investigator to examine the complaints against the senior employee after Ms Holland lodged a formal grievance in December 2019. CNI source report