The WRC recommended that a public body formalise its transfer policy and give a stonemason written assurance about a move to A town. The recommendation, dated 27 April 2017, followed a dispute after a junior colleague transferred there ahead of him.
The worker said he had been told he was next in line and raised a grievance with his union after learning of the other transfer in January 2015. The public body said it supported his request but could not facilitate it immediately while meeting staffing and operational needs. It said the earlier transfer had been made on exceptional-needs grounds.
Adjudicator Patsy Doyle found the transfer policy unclear and that there had been an inordinate delay before the grievance was addressed. She recommended amending the worker’s contract to formalise the policy and issuing a letter confirming that he would be facilitated when a colleague’s anticipated retirement created an opportunity. She also said it would be fair and reasonable to assign him to any earlier vacancy in A town.