Recommendation

Industrial Relations Act 1969

Investigation Recommendation Reference: IR - SC - 00003122

Parties:

	Worker	Employer
Anonymised Parties	A Receptionist	A Medical Practice

Representatives

Did not attend the hearing

Represented by the Directors

Dispute:

Act	Dispute Reference No.	Date of Receipt
Complaint seeking adjudication by the Workplace Relations Commission under section 13 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1969	IR - SC - 00003122	13/09/2024

Workplace Relations Commission Adjudication Officer: Catherine Byrne

Date of Hearing: 17/01/2025

Procedure:

In accordance with section 13 of the Industrial Relations Act 1969 (as amended), this dispute was assigned to me for investigation by the Director General. A hearing was arranged for January 17th 2025 at 11.00am. The employer was represented by two of the company’s directors; however, the worker did not attend.

I checked the case file and noted that a letter was sent to the worker by email on October 30th 2024, notifying her of the date and time of the hearing on January 17th 2025. On December 20th, the worker sent an email to the WRC and requested a copy of her complaint form, and a copy was sent to her by email on December 23rd. There is no indication that the email with the notice of the hearing or the email of December 23rd were not received by the worker. I am satisfied therefore, that she had adequate notice of the hearing. I am satisfied that she was informed in writing of the date and time at which the hearing to investigate her dispute would be held. I find that it was unreasonable and a waste of the resources of the WRC that she did not attend, or alternatively, that she did not notify us of her decision not to attend.

Recommendation:

Section 13 of the Industrial Relations Act 1969 requires that I make a recommendation in relation to the dispute.

In the circumstances in which the worker did not attend the hearing, I recommend that the employer takes no further action regarding the matter in dispute.

Dated: 27th January 2025