The Labour Court increased Matthew Laffan’s compensation to €1,000 after allowing his appeal over annual leave and public holiday entitlements. The determination was signed on 15 November 2011, varying the Rights Commissioner’s €500 award.
Laffan, a barman employed by Sean Furey, said he had not taken annual leave and was paid extra instead. Furey said Laffan had refused leave and preferred the additional pay. He admitted facilitating the arrangement, which the Court found breached the law.
The Court said the employer remained responsible for complying with the law, even when an employee pressed for payment instead of leave. It said failures to provide annual leave must be viewed seriously. The €1,000 compensation covered Laffan’s economic loss, the denial of his statutory entitlements and deterrence of further breaches.