Galway University Hospital worker’s holiday-pay complaint fails

Aiman Ahmed Mohamed Elamin’s complaint over holiday pay from Galway University Hospital Medical Manpower was found not well founded by the Workplace Relations Commission, in a decision dated 18 August 2023. Elamin said he had been unable to take annual leave during the Covid emergency and was told he would be paid instead. He disputed the net amount he received. The hospital said it was not aware of employees being compelled to take payment instead of leave. Elamin accepted that the gross holiday-pay calculation of €3,246.10 was correct. He had received €1,543.73, leaving a disputed difference of €1,702.37. The adjudicator found that tax deductions and the net payment were matters between the employee, employer and Revenue, outside the WRC’s remit under the Act. The adjudicator also found that the separate issue of being refused annual leave was raised outside the statutory time limit. She expressed concern that employees may have been directed to take payment instead of health and safety leave.