Labour Court recommends Glanbia assess Consumer Division staff for 2009 bonuses

The Labour Court recommended that Glanbia PLC assess affected Consumer Division staff for 2009 bonuses under the scheme rules in force at the start of that trading year and pay them accordingly. The recommendation was signed on 4 October 2010. The Dairy Executives' Association, representing the workers, said Glanbia changed the bonus calculation without consultation and treated staff differently from other employees. Glanbia argued there was no automatic right to a bonus and that payments depended on business performance. The Court said significant changes to the scheme required meaningful engagement with staff representatives, and that qualification criteria should be shared before the trading year began. It called changing the rules five months into the year unfair and at odds with best practice, and recommended the parties address outstanding issues for 2009 and 2010 and discuss future arrangements.