Courts / Dublin / Report

DHL ordered to pay €18k redundancy after relocation left worker facing five-hour commute

Summary

DHL has been ordered to pay €18,000 in redundancy compensation to Oscar Solano Fernandez, a warehouse worker who lost his job after refusing a transfer that would have required a five-hour commute. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint under the Redundancy Payments Act 1967, finding the relocation offer unreasonable. Mr Solano, who had worked at the Clondalkin warehouse for 15 years, argued that the new commute would interfere with his family responsibilities. DHL had offered a relocation package, including a €1,000 bonus and €5,000 in Perx vouchers, but the WRC ruled that the alternative job was not reasonable. The adjudication officer found that Mr Solano was entitled to a redundancy payment based on his weekly wages and years of service. The company denied claims that it sought to avoid redundancy payments by keeping workers nominally employed. The decision rejected claims of unfair dismissal and discrimination based on family status.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: DHL ordered to pay €18k redundancy after relocation left worker facing five-hour commute. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2025-07-15 Publication

Why: "I don't have nothing against DHL; they gave me a chance to work with them – but I didn't want to be spending two, three hours per day going to and back from work, because I have a responsibility to my family. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report