The Labour Court found that a motor company discriminated against a worker by dismissing him because of his hearing disability and awarded him €3,000 compensation. The determination was signed on 2 July 2002.
The worker said his hearing aid had not caused problems in his previous telephone work and suggested building noise may have affected calls. The company said customer complaints about telephone communication and his performance continued after it supplied a headset and amplifier. The Court found the headset was unsuitable. A specialist headset costing about €450 was available, a cost the Court considered nominal for the company. It also said basic induction training could have helped.
The Court found that the company had not taken all reasonable steps to accommodate the worker. It concluded that his dismissal because of his disability was discrimination and awarded compensation. The finding concerned his dismissal and the company’s response to his hearing difficulties.