WRC recommends €200 payment after unfair vehicle damage investigation

The WRC recommended a €200 goodwill payment to a worker after finding that an employer’s investigation into vehicle damage did not give him a fair chance to respond. The recommendation was dated 28 April 2026. The employer had attributed responsibility for damage to a company vehicle and sought repayment of repair costs before following its disciplinary process. The worker disputed responsibility and said he was found guilty without substantial evidence. The employer later concluded there was insufficient evidence to uphold the minor misconduct allegation, but issued an advice and caution about vehicle inspections. The worker accepted the caution and did not appeal it. The adjudicator found that the worker had not been shown the case against him, including when the damage was reported or pictures of it. The WRC also recommended that the employer take account of the findings on its vehicle policy and investigation and disciplinary procedures.