Labour Court varies €3,000 recommendation on worker’s appeal against Covidien Ireland Limited

The Labour Court varied a Rights Commissioner’s recommendation on 1 May 2013, replacing the proposed €3,000 compensation with independent mediation aimed at returning a worker to his former Materials Handler role. The worker had appealed the recommendation. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union represented him. The worker said he had been moved to General Operator duties after raising concerns about bullying by his supervisor. Covidien Ireland Limited said the move was a reassignment within his role, with no loss of earnings or demotion. The Court raised concerns about the transfer and the process followed, and said both sides should engage in mediation to seek his return to the Materials Handler role.