Labour Court recommends setting aside Dunnes Stores suspension of sales assistant

The Labour Court recommended setting aside a three-day unpaid suspension imposed on a sales assistant at its Northside Store, finding the company’s disciplinary procedures fell short of required standards. The recommendation was signed on 30 September 2013. Mandate said the worker had not been told the purpose of a meeting that shifted from an investigation to a disciplinary meeting. It also said the internal appeal was decided through written submissions, without an oral hearing being allowed. The company did not attend the Labour Court hearing or make submissions. The Court recommended that the disciplinary sanction be set aside and that Dunnes Stores (Northside) Limited bring its procedures into line with the standards in S.I. No 146 of 2000. It made no finding on the underlying misconduct allegation.