Desmond Murphy awarded €338.32 for unpaid public holidays

Desmond Murphy was awarded €338.32 after the Workplace Relations Commission found Ward Personnel Limited had not paid him for two public holidays during a temporary layoff. The WRC decision was dated 23 May 2024. Murphy said four public holidays fell within the 13-week period after he was temporarily laid off on 1 March 2022. The adjudication officer considered the holidays on 17 and 18 March, which fell within the complaint’s six-month time limit, and found no evidence that he had received payment when his employment ended. The WRC found the complaint under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 well founded and directed the company to pay €338.32 gross. The amount covered two public holidays, calculated at one fifth of Murphy’s gross weekly pay for each day. Ward Personnel Limited did not attend the hearing and gave no reason for its absence.