A software company’s former chief executive was awarded €30,000 compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found he had been unfairly dismissed. The decision, dated 2 June 2016, also upheld his complaints over unpaid wages, notice pay and annual leave and public holiday pay.
The CEO was a co-founder, shareholder and director of the company. He said the board dismissed him after disagreements over a survival plan and a proposal to remove him as CEO. The company argued that its strategy was failing and that he had not carried out board instructions as it tried to keep the business afloat.
The adjudication officer found the CEO’s employment contract gave him employment rights. He had no advance notice that dismissal would be discussed, was given an ultimatum to resign or be dismissed, and was then dismissed without notice pay. The officer declined to reduce the unfair dismissal award because the finding rested on the serious breach of process.
The WRC also found the claimed work periods had been worked and wages were due, and that six days’ annual leave and three days in lieu of public holidays were owed. It awarded six months’ salary in lieu of notice, 14 weeks’ pay for specified months and nine days’ pay for leave and public holidays.