Courts / Carlow / Report

Worker sacked over alleged 'hate speech' in refugee-critical Facebook post wins €10k

Summary

Irene Glynn, a dental assistant at the Carlow Dental Centre, was dismissed after her employer claimed a Facebook post she had made was "hate speech" against Ukrainian refugees. Glynn said she was never given a chance to defend herself and that her account might have been hacked. The Workplace Relations Commission found the centre failed to investigate the allegation properly and that dismissal was not justified, ruling it could have been a warning instead. The tribunal upheld her unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, awarding her statutory notice pay under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. The total compensation awarded was €10,564.62, including €8,552.31 for 17 weeks' pay and €2,012.31 for four weeks' notice pay. The case highlighted the employer's lack of a social media policy and the need for a proper investigation before dismissal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Worker sacked over alleged 'hate speech' in refugee-critical Facebook post wins €10k. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• Monday, January 9th Other
• 6 June Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-08-03 Publication

Why: A worker who was sacked because her bosses believed a Facebook post they linked to her had criticised Ukrainian refugees for leaving the war zone and was "hate speech" has won over €10,500 for unfair dismissal. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report