Courts / Cork / Report
Lidl manager who believed warehouse work 'too physical' for women loses claim over sacking
Summary
Adjudicator David James Murphy of the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed an unfair dismissal claim brought by Gabor Hoff against Lidl Ireland Gmbh. Hoff, a deputy logistics manager at the Charleville distribution centre, was dismissed on 16 December 2022. Lidl alleged that on 20 October 2022, Hoff remarked to two female workers that the warehouse work was too physical for women and that he did not hire females for such roles. Hoff disputed the accuracy of these statements, claiming they were taken out of context and that he did not intend offence. However, Lidl presented evidence that Hoff was already on a final written warning for previous suggestive comments and had recently completed dignity at work training. The adjudicator found it reasonable to infer that the female complainant was offended, noting her formal complaint and visible distress. Considering Hoff's prior disciplinary history and the unacceptable nature of the alleged comments, the adjudicator concluded that dismissal was a reasonable response available to the employer. Consequently, the claim was found not well founded, and Hoff lost his challenge to the sacking.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Lidl manager who believed warehouse work 'too physical' for women loses claim over sacking. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 16 December 2022 Other
- 20 October 2022 Incident
- 2 November 2022 Other
- 2024-12-17 Publication
Why: He told the WRC he did not say he "wouldn't employ women" but that he "didn't believe a picking job was ideal for women because it was too physical". CNI source report
Case subjects
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