The Workplace Relations Commission found Grainne Cowley had not established a case of age discrimination against Aib Bank Plc after it declined to provide her with a detailed reference. The decision was dated 21 June 2023.
Cowley said the bank’s statement of employment did not reflect her contribution during a 28-year career and could hinder her applications for equivalent work. She alleged the bank refused a reference because of her age. The bank said it had a policy of giving all departing employees a standard statement of employment, and applied that policy to former staff who requested references.
The WRC noted that Cowley had not named a comparator and found the bank’s statement-only policy applied to all former employees requesting references. It concluded she had not established a prima facie case: the evidence did not establish facts from which discrimination could be inferred. The complaint was found not well founded.