The Labour Court increased compensation for Ben Madichie’s unfair dismissal from €29,960 to €40,000 after rejecting an appeal by his employer, Starrus Eco Holdings Limited T/A Panda / Greenstar. The Court’s determination was signed on 9 August 2022.
Madichie worked as a driver from October 2017 until his dismissal in February 2020. The company said it dismissed him for gross misconduct, alleging physical contact with a manager, refusal of an instruction and verbal abuse. Madichie disputed the account and said the dismissal process was unfair.
The Court found Madichie had not been told explicitly that his job was at risk and had been prevented from bringing a colleague to disciplinary and appeal hearings. It said the process lacked basic standards of fairness. The Court considered his efforts to find work and periods when he made no such efforts before setting compensation at €40,000 for financial loss attributable to the dismissal.