WRC rejects late redundancy complaint against Lighthouse Media

The Workplace Relations Commission found Kieran Tarbett’s redundancy complaint against Lighthouse Media Ltd was not well founded. The decision was dated 11 April 2024. Tarbett filed about 96 weeks after his employment ended, beyond the usual 52-week limit. The adjudicator found no reasonable cause to extend the time limit, so the merits of the redundancy claim were not decided. The complaint followed a 2020 redundancy agreed as part of a wider settlement. The employer argued that the severance agreement prevented the WRC from hearing the case, but the adjudicator found that it had not shown the agreement was supported by adequate compensation. Tarbett said he delayed filing because his solicitor was seeking payment from the company; the adjudicator found that this did not explain or excuse the delay.