WRC dismisses school assistant’s claims as out of time

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed two complaints by special needs assistant Sharon McCarthy against Coláiste Eamann Rís, finding they were brought too late. The decision, dated 30 August 2023, said the WRC lacked jurisdiction and the merits were not decided. McCarthy said she worked more hours than the 0.6 fraction for which she was paid and had not received updated terms when she moved from full-time to part-time work. The school denied both claims and argued they were out of time. The adjudication officer found that the part-time arrangement began in June 2016 at McCarthy’s request. The six-month time limit ran from then, and even a possible 12-month period would have expired by June 2017. The operative decision found both complaints not well founded, on the procedural basis that they were out of time.