The Workplace Relations Commission found David Hanley was unfairly dismissed by Pbr Restaurants Ltd Fish Shack Cafe and ordered €20,000 compensation. The decision was dated 9 March 2023.
Hanley said his redundancy was not genuine and that he was targeted because he belonged to the family that had previously owned the business. The company said the redundancy followed a restructuring during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WRC found the appeal process was not professional and proper, and there was no evidence the company had considered alternatives for Hanley. It concluded that his dismissal was unfair.
In setting compensation, the WRC considered Hanley’s efforts to find work and that he later obtained a lower-paid job. The €20,000 award was in addition to payments already made to him.