Labour Court upholds €1,500 payment to worker on Bord Na Gcon appeal

The Labour Court upheld a €1,500 payment to a worker after Bord Na Gcon appealed a Rights Commissioner's recommendation. The Court's decision was dated 7 November 2002. The worker had been employed part time as Tote Manager at Waterford Greyhound Track since 1965. The union said he was told he was being let go because of his age; management rejected that claim and said he had long passed retirement age. The Court found no express retirement provision in his contract and said workplace practice gave him a legitimate expectation that he could continue working while fit. It said the Board could introduce a retirement age, but compensation was reasonable because that changed his original employment terms. The Court classified the payment as ex gratia and varied the reasons for it.