Labour Court removes €3,500 payment from South Dublin County Council recommendation

The Labour Court did not uphold a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation that South Dublin County Council pay a carpenter €3,500, while retaining recommendations about his transfer and the findings of a bullying investigation. The decision was dated 30 November 2011. An investigator had upheld four of the worker’s 18 bullying complaints. Both the council and the worker appealed. The Court was satisfied that the council had handled the complaint under its Dignity at Work Policy and that the sanctions imposed were appropriate. It also found that the transfer to the Parks Department had been made without formal notice and that the worker lacked confirmation of his long-term position. The Court recommended that the council confirm in writing that it accepted the four findings, that the transfer was not disciplinary or connected to the complaint, and that a verbal warning be removed from the worker’s file. It also recommended confirmation of his position, reporting arrangements and retention of his multiskilling rate of pay.