A Moate man was awarded over €25,000 by the Employments Appeal Tribunal (EAT ) when, following a takeover, his former employer left him with the option of either commuting to Mountmellick or taking redundancy, but who refused to pay up after he chose the latter.
Thomas Gorman (41 ), of Windmill Lawns, Moate had taken his action against Moate Farm Store Limited, Athlone Road, Moate where he worked as a manager and had been in employment since 1986.
Despite being notified by the EAT, no representatives of the Model Farm Store appeared at the hearing in the Hodson Bay Hotel.
In his evidence Mr Gorman said he was informed in March 2006 that one of the two owners of the business had sold his half to his partner.
When he asked about his options he was told that alternative employment or redundancy was on offer but when informed this alternative employment would be in Mountmellick in Co Laois, Mr Gorman opted for redundancy rather than face an 80-mile round trip each day.
Mr Gorman told the EAT both his accountant and solicitor wrote to his former employer in October 2007 about his choice of redundancy but no reply was received.
Based on the uncontested evidence of Mr Gorman, the Tribunal was satisfied that his employment ended by reason of redundancy.
Accordingly, the Tribunal found he was entitled to a redundancy lump sum under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967-2003 and awarded him €25,620.
His former employers are entitled to a 60 per cent rebate on this payment, worth €15,372, from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
