Lemon Cafe Bar worker awarded €10,260 statutory redundancy

The Workplace Relations Commission found Andrea Valente was dismissed by reason of redundancy and entitled to €10,260 in statutory redundancy after Lemon Cafe Bar Ltd’s business ceased operating. The decision, dated 29 August 2022, allowed Valente’s complaint under the Redundancy Payments Act. Adjudication officer Conor Stokes found the evidence of business closure credible, supported by an email referring to the loss of operational premises. The award was calculated using the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection redundancy calculator. Valente said he had worked for the café for eight years and was told on 7 December 2020 that it could not reopen. He said he had sought completion of the redundancy process and payment of his statutory entitlement. The company did not attend the hearing, but had told the WRC by email that it had offered him another position which he declined.