The Workplace Relations Commission directed a utility services company to pay statutory redundancy to a former project co-ordinator who reasonably refused a 12-month administrator contract. The decision was dated 25 October 2017, and payment is subject to the worker having the required insurable employment.
The worker had completed a fixed-term contract lasting more than two years. He declined a 12-month role with the company’s parent, saying it offered less job security. The company argued that the alternative job was suitable and that refusing it was unreasonable.
The adjudication officer found the role objectively suitable but said the refusal was reasonable because the new contract was less than half as long as the existing one, while two permanent administrator positions were available. The officer also found the company had not made clear beforehand that taking a job with its parent could affect the worker’s redundancy entitlement.