Richale Developments Ordered to Pay €21,700 Over Worker Abuse

A catering worker who quit her job over her boss’s conduct has won €21,700 following a ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission, The Irish Times reported. The adjudicator granted the complainant anonymity on an exceptional basis due to threatening behavior from her employer after she resigned.

The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Co Kerry-based Richale Developments Ltd to pay the total sum for constructive dismissal, unpaid wages, and breaches of statutory leave entitlements. The company operates school catering services and a function room in the county.

Adjudicator Úna Glazier-Farmer awarded the worker €10,530 for financial losses sustained over roughly nine months of unemployment following her departure. A further €11,170 was awarded for failures to pay wages or statutory leave, bringing the final tally to €21,700.

Verbal Abuse and Fixed Pay Over Seven Years

The complainant began working for the firm as a catering assistant in September 2018. Her starting pay was fixed at €10 an hour and never increased before she quit in 2025, despite multiple national minimum wage hikes during that period.

Evidence presented to the tribunal showed she was frequently subjected to verbal abuse from company director John McHale. In the four months before her employment ended, McHale relayed work directions through another person and regularly referred to her at work as that fking ct, according to the adjudication.

The worker also stated she frequently had to chase late payments. She received no premium rate for working Sundays or public holidays, and when she asked about holiday pay, McHale told her she did not need it.

McHale failed to attend the tribunal hearing last month, citing work commitments. The adjudicator accepted the worker’s testimony of hostile and intimidating conduct as uncontroverted.