WRC awards Emma Ward €8,750 after unfair dismissal finding

The Workplace Relations Commission found that Kerona Scientific Limited unfairly dismissed Emma Ward and awarded her €8,750, equivalent to three months’ pay. Adjudication Officer Catherine Byrne dated the decision 9 July 2021. Ward worked as office manager and personal assistant. Kerona said her role was made redundant to cut costs, but the WRC found some duties remained and she could have been offered part-time work. It also found that the strained relationship between Ward and the managing director contributed to the decision not to consider an alternative to redundancy. The WRC found the separate parental-leave complaint was not well founded, as there was no evidence Ward had applied for leave or discussed an intention to take it with the company.