The Labour Court has dismissed an appeal by an RTÉ employee seeking an estimated €77,000 in alleged unpaid entitlements, recommending that the worker instead accept an ex-gratia lump sum payment of €2,800 offered by the state broadcaster.

The dispute centered on claims for pension contributions, annual leave, public holiday pay, and privilege days covering a seven-year period from 2013 to 2019. Trade union SIPTU, representing the worker, had calculated the €77,000 figure as the estimated loss suffered due to non-payment of standard employment entitlements during that time.

According to tribunal details, the employee commenced working at RTÉ in August 2008 under a series of independent contractor arrangements. In 2018, RTÉ management and trade unions agreed to commission an external review into the employment status of more than 400 sole traders. The review concluded that 106 individuals, including the claimant, performed roles with attributes akin to regular employment.

Following joint facilitation between unions and RTÉ to recognize prior service, the worker secured a full-time contract at the broadcaster in 2020 and was offered the €2,800 ex-gratia payment under an agreed formula. The worker subsequently appealed an initial Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adjudication ruling that had not upheld the claim.

In the Labour Court ruling, Chairwoman Louise O'Donnell stated that the court saw no basis to depart from the agreed formula reached between RTÉ and union representatives. The tribunal recommended that the employee accept the €2,800 ex-gratia payment to resolve the matter.