The WRC found that a worker was unfairly dismissed and ordered the employer to pay €32,000 compensation. The decision was dated 1 November 2023.
The employer, a not-for-profit public service organisation providing support services to families and children, said pending charges, unsatisfactory vetting and concerns that the worker had failed to disclose relevant information made his continued employment untenable. The worker argued that the investigation, disciplinary process and appeal were unfair.
The WRC found that dismissal was not within the range of reasonable responses and that the employer had not shown it considered a lesser sanction. It also found that fair procedures were breached: the worker was not told in advance that a meeting would combine investigation and disciplinary stages, and a third concern was not fairly put to him. The WRC found financial loss attributable to the dismissal and awarded compensation of €32,000, about five months’ salary.