WRC rejects part-time teacher’s public holiday and treatment complaints

The Workplace Relations Commission rejected two complaints by Julian Rixon, a part-time primary school teacher, against the Department of Education and Skills. The decision, dated 14 June 2023, concerned public holiday entitlements and alleged less favourable treatment under part-time work rules. Rixon worked 15 hours a week, usually on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. He argued that when public holidays fell on Mondays or Fridays during the school year, he received neither paid time off nor a day in lieu. The Department said its policy provided additional annual leave for holidays falling on days he was not rostered, to be taken during school closures. The officer found the Department had met its public holiday obligation by granting that additional leave and found no money outstanding. The officer also found no less favourable treatment compared with full-time teachers; another part-time teacher could not serve as the legal comparator. Both complaints were found not well founded.