WRC rejects worker’s complaints over Polish language guidance and employment terms

The Workplace Relations Commission found a general operative’s race discrimination complaint over instructions to speak English at work was not well founded. Her separate complaint about her written employment terms also failed. The decision was dated 5 January 2017. The worker said her supervisor told her not to speak Polish, her native language. The medical device company said the guidance was intended to include workers of different nationalities and allowed Polish during breaks or when only Polish speakers were on the production line. The adjudication officer found she would have learned about the guidelines through supervisor briefings, colleagues and noticeboard posters, and that the company introduced them in good faith for inclusion. On the employment terms complaint, the officer found the handbook set out working hours and pension entitlements. The holiday-year issue could only be considered under the Organisation of Working Time Act, while the pay reference information had no practical significance given the worker’s earnings above the minimum wage.