The WRC recommended that an employer pay a social worker €10,000 for illness resulting directly from its treatment of her, in a decision dated 27 May 2022. It also recommended two payments of €1,250, each described as three weeks’ half pay, and that the employer follow her GP’s advice and review the allocation of cases.
The worker said she was moved to the employer’s CIC team without consultation or an explanation of how staff were matched to roles. The employer said it needed social workers in the team and that occupational health had confirmed she could work there. Her grievance was partly upheld, and she was told she would not have to transfer, though she could be assigned some CIC cases.
The adjudication officer found the employer prioritised filling vacancies over the worker’s mental health and noted that much of its correspondence with her took place while she was on sick leave. The recommendation also called for a fair and equal allocation of cases.