The Workplace Relations Commission rejected Alan Whyte’s unfair dismissal complaint against Elite Form Manufacturing N/A, finding that he refused a reasonable delivery instruction and acted inappropriately towards senior management. Adjudication officer Niamh O’Carroll’s decision was dated 5 February 2026.
The company said deliveries were part of Whyte’s Service Engineer and Lorry Driver role. It said a delivery to University College Dublin was ready at about 11.05am on 20 June 2025, but Whyte refused repeated requests to take it because he would not return by his usual 1pm finish. Whyte said a morning delay made the trip impractical within his normal hours.
The adjudicator found the instruction was reasonable given the customer’s importance and the possible financial consequences of a late delivery. She accepted the company’s account that Whyte shouted and acted aggressively, while noting the dismissal was summary and no formal disciplinary process was used that day. The complaint was found not well founded.