A MAN who was accused of taking too many sick days by his boss has been awarded over €70,000 by the Employment Appeals Tribunal for unfair dismissal.
Thomas Bond, of Navan, Co Meath, had been an employee at Keegan Quarries since September 2004. He was fired from his position as a concrete plant manager in June 2009.
Mr Bond told the tribunal hearing how he had often turned up for work at the plant in Ballycoolin, Co Dublin, despite being in possession of a sick certificate.
He did so, he said, because of a fear that to do otherwise would mean losing his job. He gave a number of examples where he was ordered to return to work when in possession of such a certificate.
The tribunal heard in October 2007 Mr Bond fell at work and suffered a leg injury. He had to be taken to hospital and was issued with a medical certificate for a week off work. When the managing director of Keegan Quarries heard of this, Mr Bond said he was instructed to return to work immediately, that he had an automatic car and so was mobile, and that if needed he could keep his injured leg raised on a box for relief.
When, in June 2009, Mr Bond told the managing director over the phone that he was in hospital after collapsing at home, he said he was instructed to stay home for good and that “sick days don’t exist”, the tribunal heard.
After a cross-examination of the claimant, a dispute between the tribunal and representatives of Keegan Quarries resulted in the latter withdrawing from the case. The tribunal awarded Mr Bond €70,000 for unfair dismissal and €2,225.14 in lieu of notice.