Labour Court recommends worker accept Castlethorn apology in bullying dispute

The Labour Court recommended that a worker accept Castlethorn Construction Ltd’s apology to resolve his bullying and harassment dispute. Its decision was dated 20 August 2010, following the worker’s appeal of a Rights Commissioner recommendation that the complaint was not well founded. The worker said remarks at an informal meeting had hurt him and sought an apology. Castlethorn said he had chosen to pursue the matter informally and declined the formal procedure. At the hearing, the company apologised for any hurt or distress. The Court noted that the worker had left on amicable terms after voluntary redundancy and regarded the apology as sincere. It recommended that he accept the apology and that the matter be resolved on that basis.