WRC does not recommend including allowances in worker’s promotion pay

The WRC did not recommend that a worker’s fixed allowances be included in his starting pay after promotion to Technical Services Manager at a health service provider. Adjudication Officer Bríd Deering dated the recommendation 31 July 2023. The worker said his average take-home pay as a craftworker was €64,000 and that his new salary was €51,855. He argued that three fixed allowances should count toward his starting pay. The employer said the applicable circular allowed only basic pay and that one allowance had been included in error. The officer found that the promotion rules did not provide for including allowances in starting pay. She also noted that the promotion brought shorter working hours and no on-call, shift or weekend duties, and that the worker had accepted the salary before starting the role.