Labour Court recommends €7,500 for worker after Permanent TSB failed to act on redundancy note

The Labour Court recommended that Permanent TSB pay an unnamed worker €7,500 in full and final settlement of her claim. The recommendation was signed on 11 October 2010 and was without prejudice to her career-break entitlements. The worker said she took an incentivised career break after being assured she could apply for consideration under a future voluntary redundancy scheme. Permanent TSB, represented by Irish Life & Permanent plc t/a Permanent TSB, denied giving that assurance and said the scheme covered staff on its payroll when it was introduced. The Court found she retained a right to return to work and that the bank had received her handwritten note about redundancy eligibility. It found the note should have been noticed and acted on, and that the bank’s failure gave rise to her mistaken belief. As the scheme had closed and could not practically be reopened, the Court recommended €7,500 compensation.