The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Acchl Limited T/A Homesavers to pay store manager Darrell Donnelly €30,000 after finding the company penalised him for raising health and safety concerns. The decision was dated 13 February 2024.
Donnelly worked at the company’s Limerick store. He raised concerns about a mouse infestation and said he was told to move to the Nenagh store after making health and safety complaints. He said he did not drive and was sent home with pay after refusing the move. Homesavers said the temporary transfer was intended to ease work-related stress and denied penalising him.
The adjudication officer found that Donnelly had made a protected health and safety representation and that changing his work location and sending him home without an explanation or due process were detriments. The officer concluded that his complaints were an operative reason for those actions and declared his complaint well founded. The award was compensation; the WRC did not provide for costs on his application.