Labour Court awards Feelystone Limited worker €3,000 over unfair dismissal

The Labour Court awarded an unnamed Feelystone Limited worker €3,000 after finding his dismissal unfair, in a decision dated 26 May 2003. It set aside the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation and upheld the union’s appeal. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union argued that the worker was the only one of about 60 employees dismissed, that proper procedures and consultation were lacking, and that he could have been redeployed. The company said the dismissal reflected reduced staffing needs and a downturn in business. The Court noted that the company had not followed dismissal procedures or paid the four weeks’ notice required by the worker’s contract. It found the dismissal and the way it was handled fell below normal standards. The compensation included any outstanding money due.