The Workplace Relations Commission awarded €25,000 to a caretaker after finding he was unfairly dismissed when his 20-month role was advertised and given to another applicant. Adjudication Officer Penelope McGrath dated the decision 15 June 2017.
The caretaker began the full-time role while approval from the employer’s London office was pending. He believed the job would become permanent once that approval came through. The employer said there had been no guarantee and that it had to advertise the position openly once approval was granted.
The officer found no evidence the caretaker had been told his job would be at risk. She said he had been given the impression that the job was his, subject to approval from London, and that he worked for 20 months before being told it was going to public advertisement.
The officer also found that the interview process did not remedy the unfairness. Panel members were known to have a poor opinion of the caretaker, and that fact was known to another panel member. The award took account of his limited efforts to find alternative work.