Redundancy Rights Upheld: WorkplaceDisputes.ie Secures €7,824 for Laid-Off Employee

WorkplaceDisputes.ie has successfully secured €7,824 in compensation for a part-time worker who lost her job after her employer closed its premises — a decision from the Workplace Relations Commission that underscores the strength of Ireland's redundancy laws.

The employee had built up nine years of continuous service when she was placed on indefinite lay-off following the closure of the small business where she worked. With no clear return date and no certainty that operations would resume, she believed her employment had effectively come to an end and formally sought statutory redundancy. Her employer rejected the request and disputed her entitlement. She subsequently engaged WorkplaceDisputes.ie to pursue the matter.

The employer maintained that redundancy did not arise and argued that work would restart. However, the Commission found that the statutory steps required to prevent a redundancy entitlement had not been properly taken and that there was no credible evidence of sustained work becoming available again. In those circumstances, the contract was deemed to have terminated by operation of law.

Her gross weekly wage was calculated at €327. With nine years of service, she was awarded 19 weeks' statutory redundancy pay. The Commission also upheld additional statutory breaches.

Awards Breakdown:

• €6,213 statutory redundancy (19 weeks' pay)

• €784 unpaid accrued annual leave

• €500 compensation under working time legislation

• €327 compensation for failure to provide proper written terms

• Total Award: €7,824

The ruling sends a clear message: lay-off does not automatically shield an employer from redundancy obligations. Where statutory conditions are met and procedures are not properly followed, employees are entitled to enforce their rights — and with informed representation, those rights can be effectively vindicated.