WRC awards David Faulkner €3,830 after finding unlawful wage deduction

The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Homebond Technical Services Limited to pay David Faulkner €3,830 gross after finding it made an unlawful deduction from his final wages. The decision was dated 29 September 2021. Faulkner said the company withheld his October salary against the cost of a postgraduate diploma. Homebond relied on its staff handbook, which said course fees could be recouped if an employee left before completing two years’ service. The WRC found the course support was governed by the 2004 handbook, and Faulkner had not been asked to commit to a period of service. It found the later handbook’s wording did not authorise an automatic deduction and that the deduction was not fair or reasonable. The WRC did not allow his claim for expenses.