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WRC upholds sacking of Lidl manager who couldn't produce receipt for energy drinks

Summary

In September 2025, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected Katazyna Wadlewska's claim of unfair dismissal after Lidl Ireland Gmbh terminated her €50,000-a-year deputy store manager role. Wadlewska was accused during a 2023 internal audit of removing a six‑pack of Kong Light energy drinks from the shelf, drinking one, and leaving the rest in the warehouse. She admitted taking the drinks but claimed it was common practice and that she paid for them later. Wadlewska denied intent to steal and argued that the investigation was biased because the new store manager, Steven Morrissey, was married to a subordinate. The commission found the disciplinary process complied with the code of practice, noted that Wadlewska had not lodged a grievance against Morrissey, and concluded her dismissal was not unfair. The decision was published in a WRC ruling this week.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: WRC upholds sacking of Lidl manager who couldn't produce receipt for energy drinks. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

• 20 August 2023 Other
• 20 October 2023 Other
• 2025-09-12 Publication

Why: Ms Wadlewska told the WRC she had not been able to provide receipts because of the passage of time, but said she had paid "in full". CNI source report

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Read the original CNI report