The Workplace Relations Commission awarded a creche worker €5,000 after finding she was harassed at work because of her sexual orientation. In a decision dated 4 April 2023, the WRC found that a colleague’s questions pressured her into disclosing her sexuality and that the creche had not taken reasonably practicable steps to prevent the harassment.
The worker said she was deeply upset by the questioning and management’s response. The creche denied the claims, saying it had a harassment policy and offered to investigate, but the worker chose not to pursue the complaint. The adjudicator found that management had not properly applied the policy and that the worker’s decision not to take part in the proposed process was understandable.
The worker also alleged that her role and hours changed after she complained. The WRC found no link between those changes and her complaint, and ruled that she had not established victimisation.