WRC finds no dismissal in Michael Connolly’s unfair-dismissal claim

The WRC found Michael Connolly was not unfairly dismissed by Coldwinter Garden Centre Ltd, after concluding that no dismissal took place. The decision was dated 14 February 2022. Connolly said he understood an instruction to leave the premises during an argument about his son’s job to mean he had been dismissed. The garden centre disputed that account and said Connolly remained on temporary lay-off. The adjudicator noted that Connolly’s 28 May text to the owner did not refer to an alleged dismissal or a failure to return him to work. The WRC therefore found his unfair-dismissal complaint was not well founded.