Labour Court rejects An Post worker’s sick-pay compensation claim

The Labour Court rejected an An Post worker’s claim for compensation after sick pay stopped during an 18-month absence. In its recommendation dated 15 November 2016, the Court said the worker had returned to part-time work and that the compensation claim had not been made out. The Communications Workers Union argued that the worker’s return to An Post’s payroll should be backdated to July 2015 because the absence was medically certified, and said the assigned role was unsuitable. An Post said it had complied with the earlier recommendation and relied on its chief medical officer’s advice. The Court noted both parties had substantially complied with that recommendation; the appeal failed.