Labour Court keeps An Post worker’s warning but orders lost suspension earnings restored

The Labour Court left a second written warning in place but decided that An Post should restore a worker’s earnings lost during a suspension. The decision was signed on 28 April 2014. The worker, represented by Limerick Resource Centre for the Unemployed, said the disciplinary process was unfair and that he had been promised full pay while suspended. An Post argued that it had followed its procedures and asked the Court to affirm the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The Court found that the worker had representation, knew the allegations and had a full opportunity to answer them, so it saw no basis to interfere with the warning. It said the suspension was intended to facilitate an investigation, not to punish him, and that the lost earnings were incompatible with a full-pay suspension. It decided those earnings should be restored.