The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Margaret Dunne €12,000 after finding that Dr Declan Scanlon discriminated against her on age grounds. The decision by Adjudication Officer Marguerite Buckley was dated 10 July 2024.
Dunne had worked as a receptionist at the medical practice in Tullamore, Co Offaly, for nearly 50 years. She said younger receptionists replaced her while she was away from work and that Scanlon did not facilitate her return. Scanlon did not attend the hearing, despite being notified and given an opportunity to respond.
The officer found that Dunne had established an initial case of discrimination: she was replaced by younger staff and Scanlon avoided taking her back when she sought to return. With no respondent evidence to rebut that case, the officer found age discrimination. The €12,000 award represented six months’ gross salary and compensation for the financial impact of not being allowed to return to work.