In 1988, the Labour Court recommended that Dunnes Stores Limited consider employees’ circumstances and wishes when assigning overtime for stock-taking, and that employees should not unreasonably refuse overtime. The Irish Distributive and Administrative Trade Union brought the dispute for two long-serving employees whose contracts did not include the overtime clause introduced for newer staff. Dunnes Stores had warned them that disciplinary action could follow if they refused to take part in after-hours stock-taking. The company did not attend the hearing. The recommendation was signed on 15 September 1988.