Labour Court rejects worker’s sick-pay appeal against Otis Elevator Ireland

The Labour Court rejected a worker’s appeal over sick pay from Otis Elevator Ireland Limited in a decision signed on 10 October 2011. The worker had received nine weeks of paid sick leave in 2009 and remained on leave into 2010. The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) argued he was entitled to a further nine weeks’ pay under the company agreement; the company said a return to work was required before another entitlement arose. The Court found that the worker had voluntarily ended his employment under an agreed severance package and that outstanding industrial claims were compromised in the settlement. Separately, it recommended that the parties rewrite the scheme to clarify entitlements when sickness spans calendar years.