Labour Court upholds Woodies dismissal finding in Yvonne Devlin appeal

The Labour Court has upheld the finding that Yvonne Devlin’s dismissal by Woodies Diy Limited was fair, rejecting her appeal in a decision dated 18 January 2023. Devlin had worked for the company from 2011 to 2021 at its Tallaght branch. After Woodies moved its E-store section to Drogheda, it offered her the option of transferring with the work or taking another role in Tallaght. Woodies said she declined both alternatives and continued to refuse the flexible hours required under her contract. Devlin said she had worked Monday to Friday for years under a verbal agreement and could not change her hours. The Court found that her contract allowed flexible hours and that Woodies had acted reasonably in trying to accommodate her while meeting its business needs. It also said Devlin’s actions narrowed the options available to the employer. The Court concluded the dismissal met the reasonable-employer test.