WRC dismisses Paula Hynes’s complaints against Department of Social Protection

The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed Paula Hynes’s complaints over an alleged €3,000 deduction from her retirement lump sum and constructive dismissal, finding it had no jurisdiction because they were referred outside the statutory time limits. The decision was dated 2 May 2025. Hynes said the Department refused her request to continue working remotely and she was forced to retire; she also said the deduction was unlawful. The Department denied the allegations and argued the complaints were out of time. The WRC accepted that illness had made managing her affairs difficult but found she had not established reasonable cause to extend the filing deadline. No award was recorded.