Labour Court recommends no concession on worker’s National Gallery pay increment claim

The Labour Court recommended no concession on a worker’s claim over a withheld pay increment at the National Gallery Of Ireland, finding the Gallery followed the relevant procedures. The recommendation was dated 27 August 2026. The worker argued that the increment, withheld over timekeeping, was an unfair additional sanction and breached a public service circular. He also said he had not been given timely notice of performance concerns and challenged the appraisal process. The Gallery said the increment depended on satisfactory service and cited documented performance concerns, including lateness and failures to clock in. The Court found an annual increment was not guaranteed and that the Gallery had objective, unchallenged grounds for deeming the worker’s performance unsatisfactory. It rejected the double-sanction argument, found no unfairness or breach of the circular, and noted that the withholding decision was reviewed by more senior management. It said good practice is to warn workers that underperformance may affect an increment.