WRC recommends €800 after retail disciplinary process

The WRC recommended €800 for a worker after a retail outlet’s disciplinary process continued despite establishing that she had paid for deli items and had no intention to commit theft. The recommendation was dated 25 May 2023. The employer said she paid after leaving for her break, breaching its colleague purchasing and bag search policy, and kept a written warning in place after an appeal. The adjudicator found the process should have ended once the employer established that she had paid and had no intention to commit theft. The employer had restored five days of annual leave; the adjudicator recommended €800 as further compensation for the prolonged disciplinary, grievance and appeal process.