Cork firm MMD Construction ordered to pay former executive €16k for unfair dismissal
MMD Construction admitted it had unfairly dismissed Mr Smith. Picture: Larry Cummins.
A Cork construction and civil engineering firm has been ordered to pay over €16,000 in compensation to a former senior executive and director of the business whom it admitted it had unfairly dismissed.
The Workplace Relation Commission made the award of €16,196 against MMD Construction (Cork) in a case taken by its former contracts manager and company director, Cormac Smith.
The company which is based in Cork Airport Business Park originally denied that its dismissal of Mr Smith was unfair, but following negotiations between the parties conceded the claim.
Mr Smith, who worked as contracts manager with MMD Construction for over 21 years, told the WRC that he had responsibility for new business acquisition and company profile development through his business connections.
Mr Smith, who was paid an annual salary of €105,277, said he was part of an extended family which is involved in running MMD Construction.
The WRC heard that there had been a steady demise in his employment relationship which culminated in his dismissal for gross misconduct on November 18, 2022. Counsel for Mr Smith, William Maher BL, claimed the manner of his client’s dismissal was wholly unfair and procedurally unsound.
It was informed that Mr Smith secured a new job in January 2023 after being out of work for 58 days at an estimated loss of €16,196. The WRC heard that the parties are also engaged in parallel legal proceedings before the courts.
WRC adjudication officer, Patsy Doyle, said the company’s concession that the complainant had been unfairly dismissed was “an important declaration to place closure on what must have been an extremely challenging situation and where family lines must be extremely strained.”
Ms Doyle said it was just and equitable that Mr Smith should be awarded the full estimated loss arising from the unique circumstances of the case and to bring closure to the matter.
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