WRC finds Frank Lewis entitled to redundancy payment after restaurant closure

The Workplace Relations Commission found Frank Lewis was entitled to a statutory redundancy payment after The Yellow Phoenix Limited closed the premises where he worked. The decision, dated 31 October 2023, made the entitlement conditional on his having been in insurable employment for the relevant period. Lewis worked as a chef and said no suitable alternative job was offered when the premises closed. The company argued that alternative work was available and that he had been laid off while new premises were expected to open. The WRC found the company had ended his employment on redundancy grounds after the proposed new premises failed to open.