Labour Court recommends Switzer concede extra day’s leave to Christmas staff

In 1992, the Labour Court recommended that Switzer & Co Limited concede an additional day’s leave to staff who worked extended Christmas trading hours in 1991. The recommendation was signed on 10 August 1992. The Irish Distributive And Administrative Trade Union said the leave had been part of previous Christmas trading arrangements. Switzer & Co Limited argued that granting it would mean paying 12.5 hours for 2.5 hours worked and would involve prohibitive costs. The Court said staff could reasonably have expected the arrangement to continue because the company had not expressed reservations in previous years. It also noted that the parties had agreed procedures for future years.