WRC awards Mariusz Wierzbicki €3,500 for unfair dismissal

The Workplace Relations Commission found that Mariusz Wierzbicki was unfairly dismissed by John Murphy Concrete Limited and awarded him €3,500 compensation. The WRC dated its decision 13 February 2023. The company argued that breaks between contracts left Wierzbicki with less than a year’s service, the minimum needed to bring an unfair dismissal complaint. The adjudication officer found that his employment had not ended in November 2019, giving him at least a year’s service. The company said his employment ended because of absences and missing medical certificates. Wierzbicki said he was dismissed while on sick leave. The officer found he had not understood that his job was at risk and had not been given fair notice or a proper chance to respond. Unfair dismissal rules require an employer to follow a fair process before ending someone’s job.