Courts / Kildare / Report

Pharmacist secures €22k in redundancy after refusing move to neighbouring town

Date
2023-05-22
Stage
Hearing Or Decision
Primary locality
Newbridge
County
Kildare

Summary

A pharmacist, Fiona Rabbitte, has received a redundancy payment of over €22,000 after the Workplace Relations Commission ruled in her favour. The commission rejected Lloyds Pharmacy Ireland's claim that offering her a transfer from Newbridge to Naas was a reasonable alternative to redundancy. Ms Rabbitte had worked at the Newbridge branch since 2003 and was asked to move to the Naas branch in January 2022, which she refused. She argued that the closure of the Newbridge branch triggered her redundancy entitlement, while the firm claimed her employment had not been terminated. Ms Rabbitte explained that the Newbridge location was advantageous to her domestic life and that the Naas position would significantly increase her commuting time due to traffic congestion and the need to attend to her children's school runs. The firm's representative argued that the commute would only be extended by ten minutes and that a once-off compensation sum was offered.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pharmacist secures €22k in redundancy after refusing move to neighbouring town. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

Why: The job in Naas was "not suitable" because of the "significant traffic congestion" from school runs in the mornings and afternoon and that this would mean "hundreds of hours per year" longer in commuting time. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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