Courts / Ireland / Report

Care worker secures €27k over sexual harassment

Summary

In a decision published on 22 January 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Ability West to pay care worker Shannon Avril Holland €27,000 after finding the organisation liable for sexual harassment by a line manager. The harassment included lewd texts asking for "toe‑curling orgasmic sex" and demanding a "hand job", and unwanted touching. Holland was one of two workers to raise concerns in December 2019. The tribunal found Ability West's training on sexual harassment was insufficient, noting the former HR director admitted no such training had been recorded. Holland's complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 was upheld, and the commission highlighted that the organisation failed to provide adequate training or a written policy that was effectively implemented. The decision also noted the organisation's failure to give Holland a copy of the final investigative report. The tribunal's ruling imposed the €27,000 compensation, but the outcome of Holland's constructive dismissal claim remains unpublished.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Care worker secures €27k over sexual harassment. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• December 2019 Other
• 29 April Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• 19 May 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• Sunday 15 December 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 2020 Other
• 2024-01-22 Publication

Why: I felt I had to reply because I'd see him at work. CNI source report

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report