Irish Executive Awarded €142,984 After Unfair Dismissal from Lionbridge
An American multinational has been ordered to pay over €140,000 to a veteran Irish executive following her unfair dismissal after 24 years of service. The Irish branch of translation and localization company Lionbridge was directed to compensate its former EMEA managing director, Caroline O’Connell, for losses incurred due to what her legal counsel termed a “sham redundancy” in November 2024.
Demotion and Subsequent Dismissal
Ms. O’Connell informed the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) last year that she initiated a grievance after discovering in a company newsletter in July 2024 that her role had been “radically changed” and she had been “demoted.” She stated, “I have to say, that was pretty stressful,” and further asserted, “I believe I was dismissed because I took a grievance about my job being changed in a newsletter to the company.”
Ms. O’Connell noted that notification of her role being at risk of redundancy was delivered just two days after the conclusion of her grievance process.
Lionbridge Concedes Unfair Dismissal
Lionbridge conceded the unfair dismissal at the WRC, leaving the determination of redress as the sole issue for the commission to decide. The total amount in dispute exceeded €500,000, encompassing losses from unemployment, alleged bonus shortfalls and potential stock option entitlements.
Parallel Legal Battles
Separate legal proceedings were ongoing between the parties in both the High Court in Dublin and in the United States. The Lionbridge Group had initiated a lawsuit in the US, alleging that Ms. O’Connell breached a restrictive covenant by accepting a position with Vistatec, a company they considered a competitor.
Job Search and Mitigation of Losses
Ms. O’Connell, who was unemployed for nearly six months, revealed she interviewed for three positions and received two offers. She declined a €60,000-a-year fixed-term role as a sales director at the Irish Management Institute while pursuing opportunities with Vistatec.
WRC Adjudication and Award
Mark Curran BL, representing Lionbridge International ULC, questioned whether Vistatec constituted a competitor. Ms. O’Connell responded, “I’ve only worked in the localisation industry. Where was I supposed to go?” She also highlighted that she did not receive pay during a garden leave period, unlike other employees who were genuinely made redundant, questioning, “What was I supposed to do, sit around for a year on the dole?”
Adjudication officer Breiffni O’Neill affirmed his authority to order the company to reinstate Ms. O’Connell. However, Ms. O’Connell declined, stating, “No thank you. I would just like to secure my life back and move on, that’s what I’d like.”
In his decision, Adjudicator O’Neill determined Ms. O’Connell’s loss due to the dismissal amounted to €142,984 and awarded her the full sum. He rejected the company’s argument that she had not adequately mitigated her losses, considering the “very senior level at which she was employed” and the limited number of suitable openings available. He also dismissed the argument that a previously paid statutory redundancy lump sum of €30,000 should be deducted from the award.
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