Paul Atkinson’s unfair dismissal complaint heard by Workplace Relations Commission

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

Paul Atkinson brought an unfair dismissal complaint against PFH Technology Group to the Workplace Relations Commission. Adjudication Officer Patsy Doyle heard the case on 24 January 2024.

Atkinson’s solicitor submitted the complaint on 21 August 2023, alleging that he had been subjected to a sham redundancy and unfairly dismissed on 24 March 2023. PFH Technology Group denied that he was unfairly dismissed.

Atkinson worked as an infrastructure business integrator at a client site, having started with PFH Technology Group on 5 June 2018. The company said it informed him in November 2022 that his role at the client site would cease in December.

The company said it sought alternative work for him. One proposed client role did not proceed because the client did not require the additional headcount. It told Atkinson on 19 January 2023 that he was at risk of redundancy and announced a consultation period on 8 February.

The decision extract records that 38 open positions were issued for his consideration. Atkinson declined to have his CV forwarded for one role because of a reduction in salary. His CV was submitted for another vacancy, but nobody was called to interview; a further client was unsure whether his CV was suitable.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.