WRC recommends €750 payment to Senior Training Advisor after probation review shortcomings

The WRC recommended that County Education Training Board pay a Senior Training Advisor €750 over shortcomings in its probationary review process, while finding her unfair dismissal complaint was not well founded. The decision was dated 3 August 2021. The WRC found she reasonably believed personal financial documents found on an office photocopier could be used for fraud, so she made a protected disclosure. It concluded the disclosure was not the main factor in her dismissal, which was based on conduct and performance concerns, including issues identified before the documents were found. The advisor said she received no warnings or opportunity to improve. The board said it dismissed her during probation over conduct and performance concerns. The WRC found she could not confront two managers whose statements were relied on in the review, but that the shortcoming was not a fundamental breach of fair procedures.