Courts / Ireland / Report

Woman made redundant by own firm while marriage to husband co-owner broke down wins €25k

Summary

In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, a woman who had co‑founded a firm with her husband was made redundant in autumn 2022. The tribunal found that the breakdown of her marriage had a significant part to play in the decision to remove her as a director and signatory. The company argued that the marital issues were irrelevant and that the husband had no involvement in the redundancy process, but the adjudicator noted that the husband had been involved in previous redundancies and that the decision to dismiss had been made earlier than the formal redundancy process. The woman, an accounting technician with 20 years' experience, had a 50% shareholding and was left without income, forcing her to take supermarket shifts after the pandemic unemployment payment ceased. She had sought €72,000 in compensation but the WRC awarded her €25,000, allowing the company to deduct the statutory redundancy payment already made.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman made redundant by own firm while marriage to husband co-owner broke down wins €25k. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 2021 and 2022 Other
• 2024-01-29 Publication

Why: Giving evidence on her complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, she said that while she remained on layoff because of the Covid-19 pandemic the year before, her marriage "deteriorated" in late 2021 to the point that her husband left the family home. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report