Veteran Tesco worker (61) wins €12k for sacking over missing €20

A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator has found that a 61-year-old Tesco worker was unfairly dismissed following the loss of a €20 note at a Castlebar store in 2023. Declan Kavanagh was suspended in October 2023 pending investigation and subsequently dismissed in January 2024 after a disciplinary process concluded he had misplaced the money. The adjudicator determined that while Mr Kavanagh did not place the money where required, the company's investigation contained critical flaws, notably the failure to search bins where the note may have been located and the non-interviewing of other employees present at the time. The tribunal found no evidence of dishonesty, noting Mr Kavanagh had acknowledged the misplacement from the outset and offered reimbursement. Given his thirteen years of unblemished service and lack of malicious intent, dismissal for gross misconduct was deemed disproportionate. The adjudicator awarded €12,000 compensation for unfair dismissal, concluding a lesser sanction was warranted.