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 at Enniscorthy Greyhound Track since 1962. The union said he was told he was being let go because of his age; management said he had 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.