WRC dismisses Childcare Supervisor’s complaints against Oberstown over COVID cocooning

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed four complaints by an anonymised Childcare Supervisor against Oberstown Children Detention Campus over COVID-19 cocooning measures. The decision was dated 10 February 2025. The complainant said working remotely and being unable to return to full duties cost her shift allowances and other premiums. Oberstown said she continued to receive basic pay and was not entitled to premiums for shifts she did not work. The WRC found no unlawful deduction of wages, as she had not worked the shifts that attracted the premiums. It also found the cocooning measures were objectively justified by public health guidance and did not amount to disability discrimination or a failure to provide reasonable accommodation.