WRC awards Prison Officer €14,550 after finding dismissal unfair

The Workplace Relations Commission has awarded a Prison Officer €14,550 after finding his dismissal by The State unfair. The decision was dated 15 August 2022. The WRC found serious procedural failings: the employer relied on a paper process, refused a requested meeting without offering an alternative, and provided no hearing or appeal. It also found that no updated medical report was sought during the year before dismissal, despite identified work-related issues. The adjudicator said the Prison Officer’s conduct weakened his position, including his failure to provide a written grievance when formally invited. The WRC awarded €4,549.68 for four weeks’ gross pay and €10,000 for lost superannuation. It took his contribution to the dismissal into account when assessing the superannuation loss award. An earlier discrimination complaint was deemed withdrawn after he did not respond to correspondence about parallel claims.