Last Bus ordered to pay bus driver €1,218.24 for leave and public holidays

The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Last Bus Limited to pay bus driver Raul Bhima €1,218.24 for six days of untaken annual leave and public holidays. The decision, dated 10 February 2023, also found his redundancy complaint not well founded. Bhima said the alternative driving job offered after Quick Park ceased trading involved a different employer and substantially changed terms. Last Bus said he would continue working for the same employer on the Dublin Airport to Portlaoise route. The adjudication officer found the role suitable and its proposed changes insignificant, and said it was unreasonable for Bhima to refuse it or even try it for a few weeks. The WRC also found his claim for annual leave pay during lay-off not well founded. However, it directed Last Bus to pay for leave and public holidays due up to the start of the lay-off and public holidays falling in its first 13 weeks. The redundancy complaint failed because the officer found Bhima was not dismissed and had failed to return to work after the lay-off.