WRC awards Carol Lombard €1,008 over Sunday work

The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Carol Lombard €1,008 after finding McCurragh Limited Wave had not properly compensated her for Sunday work. The decision was dated 17 May 2022. Lombard worked as a coffee adviser at the Nespresso counter in Arnott’s Department Store. Her employer argued that her €14 hourly rate included a Sunday premium, but the WRC found that her contract did not specify this and the evidence did not establish an accepted practice. It determined that Sunday work should be paid at 1.5 times the hourly rate and directed the employer to comply. The WRC said Lombard had no financial loss during the relevant six months because the franchise was closed due to Covid restrictions; the award was compensation for the continuing contravention.