The Workplace Relations Commission found that a department store unfairly dismissed a retail assistant after a period of sick leave and awarded him €2,270.40 gross, equal to four weeks’ remuneration. The decision was dated 6 December 2017. The assistant had been on certified sick leave. He said he attended meetings about his recovery and appealed the dismissal, but no appeal hearing took place. The store said it had held regular meetings, needed a definite return date and could not keep the position open indefinitely. The adjudicator found the store should have arranged an independent assessment after receiving a GP estimate that the assistant might return within three to six months. The WRC chose compensation, noting there was no evidence of future income loss.