The Workplace Relations Commission awarded a technical manager €48,000 after finding that a meat processing company penalised her for raising a health and safety complaint. Adjudication Officer Emile Daly dated the decision 25 March 2025.
The worker said an investigation into her grievance recommended disciplinary action against her instead of addressing her concerns. She also said management contacted her during certified sick leave and later proposed an exit agreement. The company argued that the complaint was out of time, that it did not concern health and safety, and that there had been no penalisation.
The WRC extended the time limit because the worker had been too unwell to bring the complaint sooner. It found that her grievance was a protected health and safety complaint, and that the disciplinary recommendation, management's contact during sick leave and the exit proposal were penalisation. The €48,000 award reflected the impact on her health, lost income and the need for an effective remedy.