The Workplace Relations Commission found Alex Roder’s dismissal by DGP Intelsius Teoranta t/a DGP Intelsius Ireland unfair and awarded him €1,000 gross in a decision dated 5 April 2023.
Roder was dismissed after making personal purchases using the company account and contacting its external accountant without management permission. He said he paid for the purchases himself, had previously received permission and contacted the accountant about his pay. The company said his conduct breached trust and exposed it to a possible VAT issue.
The adjudicator found the dismissal disproportionate and the appeal process insufficiently independent: the appeal officer was the dismissal decision-maker’s husband and co-owner. The WRC also found Roder contributed to his dismissal through his approach to the company’s trust relationships.
Under the Unfair Dismissals Act, where there was no financial loss, redress was limited to four weeks’ remuneration. The WRC awarded a gross lump sum of €1,000, slightly more than two weeks’ pay.