WRC orders Quinn Motors to pay James Quinn wages for unpaid suspension

The Workplace Relations Commission found Quinn Motors (Castlecomer) Limited Quinn Motors made an unlawful deduction from James Quinn’s wages by retrospectively placing him on unpaid suspension from 7 April to 19 June 2022. The decision was dated 26 April 2024. Quinn Motors must pay the gross wages properly payable for that period, based on Quinn’s annual gross weekly salary of €760 and subject to statutory deductions. It must also calculate his pension contributions and annual leave on a full-pay basis for the same period. Quinn said the unpaid suspension breached his employment terms. The company said he had not cooperated with the disciplinary process and had not told it he was fit to return after sick leave. The officer found the period from 18 March to 6 April was authorised sick leave, but Quinn should have returned to paid suspension afterwards.