The Labour Court overturned a €650 award to Des Carolan after finding he had not established that he was an employee of Paragon Ventures Limited T/A Mefs. The Court’s determination was dated 14 October 2020.
Carolan said he joined the company as office manager and was promised an annual salary of €65,000 plus benefits, but received €500 a week. The company denied employing him and said Stuart Evans had made a separate arrangement to pay him.
The Court found there was no evidence of an employment offer or contract, payment by the company, or direct instructions from its director. It considered circumstantial evidence linking Evans to the company but found it insufficient to establish an employment relationship. The Payment of Wages Act complaint therefore failed.