The WRC found that a security company unfairly dismissed a security guard supervisor and ordered it to pay him €10,000 compensation. Adjudication Officer Patsy Doyle dated the decision 30 March 2017.
The company said the supervisor took Christmas leave without approval and missed rostered shifts, leaving it to find cover during a busy period. He said he believed his leave would be granted and argued dismissal was disproportionate. The officer found the leave had not been officially approved, and that the supervisor had not tried to agree an arrangement with the company before leaving.
The officer also found fault with the company’s handling of the case. It broadened the absence allegations during the investigation, did not make clear in advance that gross misconduct or dismissal was being considered, and did not reasonably consider alternatives to dismissal. The officer concluded that the supervisor had been unfairly dismissed and ordered compensation, taking his contribution to the dismissal into account.