Labour Court rejects council worker's appeal over severance refusal

The Labour Court rejected a worker's appeal and upheld the Rights Commissioner's recommendation over Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's refusal of his voluntary severance application. The decision was dated 18 May 2012. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union argued that the worker's job would not be replaced after his retirement and that age influenced the refusal. The council said operational reasons required him and that it could reject applications under the voluntary scheme. The Court found the council's explanations were not coherent, consistent or persuasive, but said those shortcomings did not alter the nature of the scheme. It said the council should take responsibility and address the matter directly with the former employee.