The Labour Court upheld Auke Schots’s appeal and awarded him €12,500 after finding that Sneem House Hotel Limited T/A Sneem Hotel had constructively dismissed him. The determination was dated 6 December 2022.
Schots said management wanted him to step down as head chef, ignored his repeated attempts to raise a grievance and left him believing his job was at risk. The hotel said he remained head chef and resigned voluntarily.
The Court found that the hotel had suggested he move to a sous chef role, then failed to clarify his position or address his grievance requests. It said this unreasonable behaviour eroded trust and confidence and justified his resignation. The Court calculated his financial loss at about €12,500 and ordered that sum as compensation, overturning the Adjudication Officer’s earlier decision that the complaint was not well founded.