Okan Karpuz loses unfair dismissal claim over phone use

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Okan Karpuz’s unfair dismissal complaint over mobile phone use was dismissed by the Workplace Relations Commission. The proceedings were reported on 29 June 2023.

WRC adjudicator Niamh O’Carroll found no procedural breach that could render the dismissal unfair. She said Dublin Bus had given Karpuz the documents it relied on, an opportunity to present his defence and two opportunities to appeal.

Dublin Bus dismissed Karpuz in December 2019 after two alleged breaches of its mobile phone policy. On 30 October 2019, an inspector observed him taking out and looking at his phone at traffic lights. He had earlier texted his daughter at the Ashtown terminus to check that all was well while she was minding her brother; she had not initially responded and the phone later beeped.

On 21 November 2019, Karpuz’s son was ill and he missed a call from his wife. The report said he listened to her voice message while sitting at traffic lights and put the phone away when the lights turned green. An inspector observed him using it. O’Carroll found that Karpuz did not contest being caught using his phone while driving the bus.