The Workplace Relations Commission has awarded a former employee of the Boyne Valley Group €15,000 compensation for unfair dismissal.
The man from Drogheda in County Louth was employed as a supervisor in the Boyne Valley Group´s distribution centre when, in May 2015, he was dismissed for alleged gross misconduct. His dismissal, it was claimed, was due to personal remarks he had made to a female colleague about her appearance, her future family plans and her financial affairs.
It was also claimed the supervisor had slapped the woman´s hand when she had asked to see a mobile phone he was holding at the time, and had made comments to her implying some of the workforce had been employed on the basis of sexual favours rather than merit. The woman´s complaint was supported by several colleagues, including her mother and boyfriend.
The company accused the former supervisor of singling out the woman for unwanted attention, and had done so publicly to humiliate her. Although the company´s investigations led to no concrete evidence of a physical assault on the woman, the former supervisor was dismissed on the grounds of breaching the company´s policies on bullying and harassment.
The man appealed the decision and made a claim for compensation for unfair dismissal. His case was heard recently by the Workplace Relations Commission and, under cross-examination, the man admitted making comments that could be considered insulting and that he had tried to offer an apology but the woman had refused it.
After hearing details about how the case against the man, the Chair of the Commission commented the processes the company had adopted during its investigation into the allegations and conducting the disciplinary procedures and been fair. The Chair also accepted it was not the Commission´s role to impose its own decision when the decision to dismiss was “within the band of reasonableness”.
However, the Chair disagreed that the man´s dismissal was within the band of reasonableness, and said it was a disproportionate response to the situation. The Commission awarded the former supervisor €15,000 compensation for unfair dismissal, adding that, although the comments were unwelcome to the employee in question, the matter should have been dealt with in a more constructive manner.