A woman accountant won a case for unfair dismissal against her employer and received more than EUR145,000 as compensation.
Maria Inmaculada De La Torre Ruiz received the award from Ireland’s Workplace Relations Commission after her former employers, Hamilton UK Services Ltd., “refused to” give her a specific reason for terminating their employment.
De La Torre Ruiz began working as a financial accounting in July 2021. At the time of termination, her base salary was EUR63,000.
She was told in July 2023 that she would be terminated and given three months notice instead. She claimed that she was not informed of the reason for her dismissal and that it was unfair.
Hamilton UK Services and the WRC both agreed that her dismissal was “without cause”.
The company must pay a compensation award of two years’ total remuneration of the worker, including salary and pension, as well as professional association fees. The total is EUR145.122.
In his judgement, adjudication officer Breiffni o’Neill stated that De La Torre Ruiz found it “extremely difficult” to find another permanent job following the dismissal.
In interviews, job seekers are often asked why they left their last permanent position.
He said that if the respondent refused to give her an explanation, potential employers would be reluctant to offer her a permanent position, even if it was a well-paid role.
In the 18 months that have passed since her dismissal “despite her extensive efforts”, she has been unable find a new job.
Hamilton UK Services’ representatives had counter-argued De La Torre Ruiz hadn’t mitigated her lost earnings and that award should reflect that.
O’Neill responded: “Focusing on the complainant’s efforts to minimize her loss would however be wholly inappropriate given that, as outlined above, the respondent has dealt a serious blow to her job prospects by dismissing her with no cause.”
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