Labour Court recommends €2,500 for Debenhams worker after grievance delays

The Labour Court recommended that Debenhams pay €2,500 to a worker over the difficulties and financial loss she experienced while two linked workplace grievances remained unresolved. The decision was signed on 16 March 2016. The worker, represented by Mandate, said she was absent from work for 15 months because of delays in dealing with simultaneous grievances lodged by her and a colleague. Debenhams said it had used internal and external processes and that mediation could not proceed if either party refused. The Court described the situation as complex and said it did not attribute fault to the employer for the sequence of events or the time taken to resolve them. It also acknowledged the impact on the worker, including some financial loss, and recommended the payment in recognition of the difficulties caused.