Courts / Cork / Report
Dutch professor dismissed after housing crisis delayed move to Ireland wins €300k
Summary
A Dutch economics professor, Dr Wim Naude, was dismissed by University College Cork (UCC) in August 2023 after failing to relocate to Cork within the time frame set by the university. Naude had been appointed in January 2021 and taught online until he arrived in Ireland in June–July 2021, during which he struggled to secure housing amid Ireland's housing crisis. He cited his wife's diabetes and his son's autism as additional challenges. UCC's HR head, Barry O'Brien, claimed Naude had not moved by the second half of the previous academic year and deemed his contract null, citing a lack of "physical presence" required for his duties. Naude argued the university's decision was unfair and that relocation issues could have been resolved through discussion. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and awarded him €300,000, the third‑highest award ever made to an individual employee.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dutch professor dismissed after housing crisis delayed move to Ireland wins €300k. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- August 2023 Other
- January 2021 Other
- July 2021 Other
- January 2022 Other
- July 2022 Other
- August 8th Other
- November 30th Other
- August 9th Other
- August 2022 Other
- 2024-04-22 Publication
Why: A Dutch academic hired during the Covid-19 pandemic and then fired after telling University College Cork that he was having trouble moving to Ireland to teach in person because of the housing crisis has won €300,000 for unfair dismissal. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Cork
- Her view
Topics
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