Courts / Ireland / Report

Manager forced to quit over alleged bullying is awarded €86k

Summary

In a case involving Paradigm Plastics Ltd, trading as Future Plastics, the Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found that ex‑engineering manager Michael Murphy was blameless and had acted reasonably when he resigned in December 2022. The tribunal heard that difficulties began after Murphy's new line manager, Padraig Shine, was appointed in 2019 and that an informal bullying complaint was first raised in January 2022. Murphy complained that Shine's behaviour, including calling him to his office and changing his role, was harassing. The company's HR representative, Paul McGlynn, and Shine held a meeting on 1 March 2022 that ended in a stand‑off after Murphy refused to sign a waiver. Murphy's formal grievance, lodged in May 2022 while he was on sick leave, was not investigated until October 2022, when an occupational health assessment found him fit to participate. The adjudicator ruled that the delay was entirely the company's fault and that Murphy's resignation was a constructive unfair dismissal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Manager forced to quit over alleged bullying is awarded €86k. Charges or matters: constructive dismissal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• January 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• 1 March 2022 Other
• 7 March Other
• May 2022 Other
• October 2022 Other
• 2023-11-21 Publication

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report