The Workplace Relations Commission found that a worker was discriminatorily dismissed because of his disability and ordered €50,000 in compensation. The decision was dated 15 November 2017.
The worker, an operator technician employed by a contractor, said he had used radios in similar work and that his stammer did not prevent him from doing the job. The contractor said clear radio communication was essential for safety and relied on concerns about his communication.
The adjudicator found no documents supporting concerns about the worker’s performance and no risk assessment of his ability to do the role. A speech therapist had assessed his speech, but not his suitability for the job or possible accommodations. The contractor had not made adequate enquiries about the effect of the stammer or consulted him adequately. The adjudicator also noted that the contractor later created an operator position for another employee who had failed a psychometric test.