Political party staffer fails in redundancy payment bid

A political party employee who started her career in 1981 has failed to receive statutory redundancy pay after taking early retirement following the last general election. The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed her claim in a recommendation published today. She had served for 43 years and nine different taoisigh. The worker would have had to change locations had she remained employed to continue her service, according to the WRC.

She applied for a voluntary early retirement package following the 2024 general election. Represented by Peter Glynn of Siptu, she argued she was treated unfairly compared to other political staff who received a redundancy payment in addition to their retirement package. However, the tribunal found that the worker could have been reassigned to another politician's office or party duties.

Adjudicator Breiffni O'Neil agreed with the party's stance that the worker's position could have been maintained by reassignment, rather than granting her statutory redundancy.