The WRC rejected a retail employee’s unfair dismissal complaint after finding she repeatedly failed to engage with her employer about returning to work. The decision was dated 17 May 2018. The officer found the employer’s efforts to establish when she could return were in line with its policies, despite an unexplained gap in the process from July through November.
The employee had worked for the company since August 2006 and was dismissed after an absence of just over eight months. She said she sent medical certificates and tried to contact her manager. The employer said she had failed to communicate as required, respond to letters and attend a return-to-work meeting.
The officer said the absence was lengthy but not excessive. She noted the gap in the employer’s process, but found the employee repeatedly failed to engage about returning to work. The unfair dismissal complaint failed.