Labour Court overturns redundancy ruling for Monika’s Hair Studio worker

The Labour Court overturned an earlier ruling and found Anna Mikolajczyk entitled to a statutory redundancy payment from Monika Kowalska t/a Monika’s Hair Studio. Its determination was dated 16 November 2022. Mikolajczyk had worked as a hairdresser from 15 March 2017 to 30 April 2021. The first Adjudication Officer found her claim not well founded because evidence of her social insurance contributions was missing. She appealed and provided records showing she met the contribution requirements. Kowalska said Mikolajczyk chose to leave and start her own business. The Court found she had not resigned: the salon ceased operating at its premises and Kowalska decided to work from home without employees. It said the payment should be calculated using Mikolajczyk’s agreed pre-lockdown pay of €295 a week.