Worker awarded €20,000 for unfair dismissal in Ireland

Patricia Higgins has been awarded €20,000 after losing her job at Cruinniú Bia Ltd, following complaints about unsafe working conditions and treatment as a part-time employee. The Workplace Relations Commission found she faced penalization after raising health and safety concerns. Higgins worked for the company for 14 years before her redundancy in September 2022. She reported unsafe conditions when a tradesman was cutting a roof above her desk and claimed she was bullied after declining a full-time position that would lower her pay. The WRC ruled that Higgins was treated unfairly compared to full-time workers and that her dismissal was linked to her safety complaint. The company was ordered to pay €15,000 for the health and safety breach and €5,000 for discrimination against her part-time status.